This coming baseball year will be kind of an interesting one for the Mets. They still have many holes to fill: another starting pitcher and a catcher are definite needs. They could probably use a slugging first baseman. They could most definitely use a second baseman who has better knees than I do.
There are a few problems in filling these holes. First there aren’t any really obvious free agent choices out there. Second, they don’t have a lot to trade. Third, and more importantly 2011 looks like it’s going to be filled with a lot more interesting possibilities. Just to name a few names that will or could be available: Adrian Gonzalez, Joe Mauer, Cliff Lee, Carlos Pena, Albert Pujols, Maggilio Ordonez, Carl Crawford. I can see the Mets filling a few holes from this bunch. Pena and Lee being the two most obvious choices. Therefore, we don’t wants the Mets tying up a lot of money in 2010, which could be better spent in 2011.
Here’s what I would do. For 2010, I would plug the remaining holes either from within or with lower level free agents and then hope for the best. Give Murphy one more year at first base. Give Castillo another year at second, with his contract the Mets don’t have much chance of unloading him. Stick to their guns with Bengie Molina, 2 years no more. Pray Oliver Perez has one of his up years. The Mets were a strong team in 2006, 2007 and 2008 that was decimated by injuries in 09. Having more breaks on the field and less broken bones can mean the Mets can be competitive in 2010. The Mets may not win in 2010 but they can easily be back to competitive. If that happens they will once again become viable homes to free agents and there are so many high profile free agents just around the corner.
More on that later.
