Now that the tunnel visioned Omar Minaya is done setting the Mets 2009 starting rotation, the Mets can continue to pursue other ways to improve this years team. Although the New York Post says the signing of Oliver Perez means no Manny Ramirez or Bobby Abreu, there is still a huge hole in the offense, and too many cheap (and expensive) options to fix it.
The Manny talk is hot right now, and there is an ongoing debate of who will help the Mets more: Abreu or Adam Dunn. But in part one of this [short] series, let’s look at the option that’s probably the easiest to dismiss.
MLB Trade Rumors has the latest on Orlando Hudson, in which he says he’s in talks with the Mets. The only problem is the Mets have a second basemen, even if he stunk last year. Hudson would be a nice upgrade, but the Mets aren’t going to pay Luis Castillo $6 million to play for Buffalo.
Unless they dump Castillo, Hudson is not coming to New York. Besides, if there was a team that wanted Castillo, wouldn’t it make more sense to just sign Hudson?
But… what if Hudson was signed to play left field? He could fill that hole, and if Castillo went down, Hudson can just slide right on in. But I still have two problems with that.
When healthy, Hudson and Castillo are both traditional number two hitters. If you have both of them in the lineup, one would hit in the two spot, and the other? Where? The number eight spot? I don’t think that particularly strengthens the Mets lineup, especially if it’s Castillo protecting the pitcher. 
Second, if you’re going to sign Hudson to play left field, why not just sign an actual outfielder? Dunn and Abreu are available, and would come at the same price. Maybe cheaper. So Hudson in left field doesn’t make sense for the Mets.
In fact, no scenario involving Orlando Hudson and the 2009 Mets makes sense. If this were the Yankees, they could pay Castillo to be injured, and slot Hudson in. But with a team that’s unwilling to break the bank this off-season, I can’t see it happening.
If Hudson doesn’t want to play for the Mets or Yankees, like the Trade Rumors article suggests, his best bet may be to sign a one-year deal, or wait until a week into the season when Castillo begins to break down. But right now, the glove doesn’t fit.
There is a reason I picked Hudson as the first “Now What?” to address — it’s not going to happen. You can argue spending money on Manny. You can weigh the pros and cons of Dunn or Abreu. You could even make a case for Ben Sheets.
But there is no argument that holds water for the Mets signing Orlando Hudson. End of story.
