(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
As we approach the final four games of the 2009 regular season, any hope of spinning a positive ending to an otherwise dreadful season is pretty much lost.
Despite the writing on the wall since mid-summer that the Mets would not be involved in postseason play for the third straight year, Mets fans clung to the hope that they would at least get a glimpse of the team’s future.
However, like the stars they were replacing, the young guns themselves began to drop off the radar due to injuries.
By the end of September, the only two bright spots on the team were getting a sneak peek at the potential future catcher, Josh Thole, and the privilege of watching Jeff Francoeur make strides at becoming the star player Atlanta once thought he could be.
Before the Mets begin wheeling and dealing this offseason, a meeting must take place between the Wilpons, Omar Minaya, and Jerry Manuel.
On paper, the team will have glaring holes at catcher, first base, and left field. Those needs alone will be hard to fill, especially if the team will only have between $15 million to $25 million to spend on free agents.
On top of the three vacant positions, it is safe to assume that the team will also be in the market for another starting pitcher and an arm or two for the bullpen.
From there, the Mets must decide whether this team can be competitive next year given the limited financial resources. Or they must decide if it is time to rebuild. I feel now is the worst time to attempt to deal any members of the core, especially David Wright, Jose Reyes, or Carlos Beltran.
For starters, all three are coming off down years in terms of production. Moreover, each spent at least 15 days on the disabled list. Their stock is very low right now and would not return adequate talent in a trade.
Assuming the team chooses to go for it in 2010, they will need to be creative in filling all its voids.
The key for Minaya this offseason will be to not get caught up in buying high on players. This applies directly to the free agent catcher market where every available catcher is over the age of 32.
This is a position that the Mets should not commit more than a year or two to, especially with Thole and Santos waiting in the wings.
Moving on to the first basemen and outfielder’s market, outside of the superstars (Matt Holliday and Jason Bay) there is nobody to build a team around.
Thus, the Mets must take a similar approach and only offer players one year incentive-laden deals and possibly include some sort of option for 2011 that vests when the player reaches certain milestones.
Unfortunately, guys like Bobby Abreu and Russell Branyan, who accepted one year deals last year, will be commanding more years and a bigger chunk of change after the solid years they put up in 2009.
Another intriguing position that the Mets will have to make a decision on is second base. If they are comfortable that this year was not an aberration then they should be set, otherwise they’ll have to look for a replacement.
For more information on the market check out my colleague Dave Landon’s superb article, in which he looks at who the Mets should and shouldn’t pursue at second base.
Lastly, the Mets have to entertain the idea of bringing in a starting pitcher, preferably a top-of-the rotation guy, as their projected 2010 staff is a question mark.
This is an area where the Mets really need to come up big in my opinion.
They already have a couple average starting pitchers in the rotation. They need a stud who can take some of the pressure off of Johan Santana. They need a pitcher like John Lackey or Brandon Webb
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