New York Mets Offseason Checklist Part Two: Priorities 6-10

Welcome back friends. 

As promised, I'm back with part two of my best general manager impersonation as I rundown my checklist as head of the Amazin's. 

Miss part one of this baby?  Click here to check it out.

Alright people, it's time to get this party started with priority number six.

Priority Number Six:  Find a permanent solution at second base.  This spot has basically been a revolving door for this club the past few years.  We thought we had solidified the position by signing Louis Castillo to a four-year deal.  Based on Mr. Castillo's production this season, it's safe to say we can chalk this move up as a monumental brain fart.

What we need is a player who's solid in the box and on the field, and can stay in the lineup for more than three minutes. 

The Move:  Trade Louis Castillo at all costs, and sign Orlando Hudson.  The O Dog is the player we need to sure up second base.  He is a productive player who would fit well in the clubhouse, and is rumored to be extremely interested in playing for the Mets. 

In terms of Castillo, I'm looking for 20, even 15 cents on the dollar for him if it gets him out of here.  Unlike the real Mets G.M., I can admit my mistakes, and this move was clearly a monumental one.  If I can get even a marginal reliever for him, I pull the trigger in a heartbeat, and I'll even eat most of what's left on his contract.  Anything to get this guy out of my clubhouse.  He's clearly not the same player we traded for, and he needs to be elsewhere. 

Now that we've got the O Dog at second base, and no backup, we can move on to the most intriguing priority of the winter...

Priority Number Seven:  Find as many ways to get Daniel Murphy on the field as possible.  Murph's extended stay with the big club showed me this is a player that will be part of our core by 2010.  His discipline at the plate, clutch hitting and pinch-hitting ability are attributes I simply have to have on my squad for 2009. 

Unfortunately, as I stated in Part One of this bad boy, I understand this franchise is in "Win Now" mode, and that's even an understatement.  Murphy can't play his natural position for the 2009 team (you'll see why in a little), and with Man-Ram in left, there will be no platoon.  We've sent Murphy on his way into the off-season with the assignment of learning second base, so here's my thinking...

The Move:  Say hello to Joe McEwing, the sequel. 

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