Cleaning This New York Mess for 2010

(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

2009 has been a season to forget for the New York Mets.

Injuries have killed their season. So has inconsistent play, un-clutch hitting, bad defense, and just pure bad luck.

In one season, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Fernando Martinez, J.J. Putz, and Billy Wagner have all been on the disabled list for numerous periods of time. Beltran, Reyes and Delgado are three-fourths of the big hitters for the Mets and they have been out of the lineup.

For this year, Omar Minaya can't wave a magic wand to just make the problems all go away. By the end of 2009, who knows if Minaya will even have a job.

I have a feeling if Pedro Martinez, who Minaya let walk away after 2008, has a great run for the Phillies and beats the Mets, his job will really be on the line. The Mets didn't want to shell out the money for Pedro in the offseason and in the end, it might come back and bite them in the rear.

So to look forward already for 2010, I have a plan that could fix the Mets.

For catcher, you let Brian Schneider walk away as a free agent. He's a terrible hitter and a decent defensive catcher. I say go get Jason Varitek, but I doubt Boston will let him walk away and they have an option on him.

So here are a few suggestions: Ramon Hernandez if Cincinnati doesn't pick up his option, Bengie Molina or Miguel Olivo. Any one of them would be an instant upgrade over Brian Schneider. Omir Santos can stay as the backup.

First base, bye-bye Delgado. He really never should have been here for 2008, but because he played well in the second half of 2008, got himself another year. This time, you get rid of Delgado. He's old, brittle, washed up, and not worth the contract.

I'm making a suggestion to sign two first basemen here: Nick Johnson to be the starter and Kevin Millar to be the backup and for clubhouse morale. Johnson isn't a slugger, but adds great defense and a good bat with a good average. Millar is good off the bench and a leader.

Second base, find a way to get rid of Luis Castillo, even if it means releasing him outright. Orlando Hudson wanted to be a Met all along. He only got a one-year deal in L.A. Unless they offer him an extension, you do not screw this up again, and you find a way to bring Hudson to the Mets where he wants to play.

Third base, David Wright is the face of the franchise for the next 15 years. Name him captain and let him assume the actual leader role.

Shortstop, Now, here's where I am going to get creative. Reyes is an immature player who fails in the clutch, but with a ton of talent. However, he needs to go.

You call up the Tampa Bay Rays and you make a trade—Reyes for Carl Crawford and Jason Bartlett. Bartlett isn't Reyes at shortstop, but he's an all-star and playing very well. He'd be a great addition on the Mets.

Left field, With the trade above, Crawford would take over the leadoff spot and left field. Crawford can steal bases, hit for average and power and is not immature like Reyes is, plus he knows how to play in October. Crawford would be an instant fan favorite in Queens.

Center field, Beltran is still one of the best center fielders in the game, leave him alone. He's one of the few on this team I would put up to bat in a clutch situation.

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