Playing Omar: Players Who Could Save The Mets Season

2009 stats: .295 AVG, 5 HR, 33 RBI, .406 OBP

What's the Deal:
The Washington Nationals, who are having another terrible season in 2009, have made it no secret that they are willing to clean house and deal anyone who's last name isn't Zimmerman.

The Pros:
The Mets have sorely lacked offensive production from the first base position since Carlos Delgado went down with a hip injury.

Defense at the position, even with Delgado, has not been good. Johnson, while not much of a power threat, will hit for average, get on base, give Jerry Manuel quality at-bats, and is one of the best fielding first basemen in the game.

The fact that Johnson has also played in New York (2001-2003 with the Yankees) is also a plus.

The Cons:
Johnson won't hit for power on a team that desperately needs it. He also has proven to be injury prone, and another injured player is the last thing the Mets need.

Not to mention, Johnson plays for a division foe, so the Nats may want more from the Mets than they would ask for from teams not in the same division.

2009 stats: 6-3 W-L, 4.79 ERA, 55 SO, 82.2 IP'

What's the Deal:
With John Smoltz returning from injury and now starting for the Red Sox, Boston has a log jam in the rotation. Even with Daisuke Matsuzaka injured, the Sox have plenty of starting pitching and Penny could wind up being the odd man out.

There are plenty of teams who need pitching, and not many pitchers available, a situation that will greatly bennefit Boston.

The Pros:
Brad Penny is still only 30 years old, and has all the stuff in the world. He's an All-Star caliber pitcher who could be the perfect complement to Johan Santana in the Mets rotation. At $ 5 million, Penny is a steal.

The Cons:
Penny missed most of last season and the beginning of 2009 due to injury. Since his return, he has had his moments, but he's been mostly average.

Since there are very few pitchers available, the price to land Penny may be too steep.

2009 stats: .260 AVG, 20 HR, 56 RBI, .396 OBP

What's the Deal:
The Nationals are rebuilding, again. Adam Dunn, and just about anybody else is available.

The Pros:
Adam Dunn is your classic pure power hitter, hitting 40 or more homers in each of the past five seasons.

Dunn is so big and strong that he can hit home runs out of any ball park, even the cavernous Citi Field. Dunn can also play both corner outfield spots and first base, all problem areas for the Mets.

Dunn's contract is also reasonable at $10 million for the remainder of this season and next.

The Cons:

Although Adam Dunn can play three positions, he doesn't play them all that well. He is also a strikeout machine, whiffing more than 160 times in six of the past seven seasons.

Dunn has also spent the majority of his career on terrible teams in Cincinnati and now Washington. His only taste of a playoff race came last season after he was traded to Arizona to help the Diamondbacks playoff push.

He would hit just .243 with eight homers as Arizona would miss the playoffs.

2009 stats: .270 AVG, 10 HR, 52 RBI, .335 OBP

What's the Deal:
Despite being an improved team with some great young talent, The Orioles are again under .500 and in last place in the AL East. They may begin to sell off a few of there veteran players for more young talent to build around.

The Pros:
Huff is the definition of a professional hitter (he's never even struck out 100 times in a season). He's not great, but he's usually a lock for 20-25 home runs and 90-100 RBI, numbers that no Mets player is currently on pace for.

He's also a relative bargain at only $8 million this season. Huff has also played both corner outfield positions, third base, and first base.

The Cons:
Huff has spent most of his playing time in Baltimore as a DH (although he's played first most of 2009), and while he's not terrible on defense, he's not wining a Gold Glove any time soon.

While his numbers are good, he has put them up playing his home games in hitters parks, so there is a good chance his power number could take a dive if he moves to Citi Field.

Also, with the exception of the 68 games Huff played with the Astros in 2006, he has never played on a team with a winning record, let alone one that is making a playoff push.

2009 stats: .275 AVG, 8 HR, 40 RBI, .373 OBP

What's the Deal:
Holliday hasn't been terrible in Oakland, but he hasn't put up the numbers he did in a Rockies uniform.

With his pending free agency, and the fact that the A's are a disappointing 12 games under .500, it is becoming more and more likely that Billy Beane will try to trade Holliday before he loses him for nothing in the offseason.

The Pros:

Sure his numbers are down this season, but the numbers that Holliday is putting up are still better than any of the corner outfielders the Mets currently have, except for Gary Sheffield, who is 11 years his senior.

Holliday has also managed to stay healthy for most of his career, and he is an above-average fielder in left.

The Cons:

While he's still a very good player, his drop in production since leaving Denver has to be a bit of a concern. Billy Beane is also a notoriously shrewd GM, and any deal for Holliday is probably going to have to start with Fernando Martinez AND Bobby Parnell.

Holliday is also a free agent after this season, and there will be tremendous pressure for the Mets to re-sign him. He'll easily command a salary in the $15 million-$18 million range, a figure the Wilpons will probably not be willing to pay.

2009 stats: 2-3 W-L, 5.27 ERA, 9 SV, 30 SO

What's the Deal:

It's been a season to forget for Kerry Wood and the Indians. He's struggled and the team is currently owners of the worst record in the American League.

Cleveland has already dealt one of their off-season acquisitions (Mark DeRosa) and could be looking to deal more.

The Pros:

Wood can bring versatility to a pitching staff. If he comes to Queens, he's not going to be the closer, but he could take the spot of the injured and ineffective JJ Putz.

Wood could also be used as a long reliever or middle reliever so that Pedro Feliciano doesn't have to pitch everyday.

Also, and this is a long shot, with little or no starting pitching available, the Mets could take their chances and return Wood to starting.

The Cons:

It's true that Kerry Wood is pitching for a terrible team, but his performance this season has been horrible. Plus, he is always a huge injury risk (even as a reliever), a risk the Mets can not afford to take.

2009 stats: .270 AVG, 12 HR, 39 RBI, .360 OBP

What's the Deal:

The Pirates will have their 17th consecutive losing season when it's all said and done in 2009, and they have decided to clean house (again), already trading away Nate McLouth and Nyjer Morgan.

The Pros:

Much like Nick Johnson, LaRoche is an all around solid professional ball player. He hit's for a decent average, has some pop, and plays very good defense at first base, all of which the Mets could use.

He is also only making $5 million this season, and the Pirates have shown a willingness to trade anybody.

The Cons:

LaRoche's power numbers will almost certainly take a hit if he plays his home games at Citi Field. While he is a very good fielder, LaRoche has never played any other position than first base.

If Carlos Delgado does return, then somebody has to sit, and chances are the Mets' new acquisition will have limited playing time down the stretch.

2009 stats: .270 AVG, 9 HR, 37 RBI, .319 OBP

What's the Deal:

After giving Vernon Wells a contract that will pay him over $20 million the next two seasons, the Jays will be cash-strapped when Roy Halladay becomes a free agent in 2010.

Chances are they will do whatever it takes to keep Halladay, even if it means getting rid of some salary prior to his free agency.

The Pros:

This is probably the move that makes the most sense. Rios is a five-tool player. He can hit, has some power, he can play defense in any spot in the outfield, and he has speed (32 steals in 2008, 13 so far this season).

His game would be a perfect fit for the Mets. He is signed to a relatively reasonable contract (about $5 million per year) until 2014.

The Cons:
Toronto is still in contention in the AL East, even if their chances are dwindling, so they may end up being buyer and not sellers at the trade deadline.

While Rios has been a good player, and a two time All-Star, he has yet to live up to the expectations that come with being a top prospect.

Rios can also expect his 20-25 home runs per year to drop by 10 playing in Citi Field. Also, any trade for Rios is going to cost the Mets plenty, and the Mets may not even have the chips to get him.