There are 46 players considered free-agent middle relievers this offseason, and very few jump off the page. The good pitchers are all starters, and the teams lucky enough to have good relievers keep them.
One scenario that looks plausible would be signing Chad Cordero. He has ties with Minaya that date back to their Expos days, and the Mets have reportedly already expressed their interest. It will be impossible for Minaya to completely overhaul the entire pen, but adding a strong 1-2 punch at the back end would be an early holiday gift Met fans would love to unwrap.
Who’s In Left?– I should preface this section by reviewing the state of the outfield. Mainstay Carlos Beltran will again patrol center, while Ryan Church will enter his second year on the job in right. When healthy, Church has proven to be a solid middle-of-the-order bat and a fine fielder with an above-average throwing arm. So two thirds of the outfield is set.
So what do they do in left? Daniel Murphy appears to be a pure hitter who could always start the season, maybe in a platoon with Fernando Tatis and Endy Chavez. With farm-sensation Fernando Martinez marinating in the minors, the best move may be to simply stand pat.
The big pink elephant in the room is Minaya’s interest in Manny Ramirez, which is well documented. However his price tag appears way too high, as the Mets have yet to publicly throw their hat in the ring.
If a need to upgrade is desired, and Ramirez is out of reach, the Mets should turn their attention toward landing Raul Ibanez. Ibanez’s leadership and bat would be great additions to a club that certainly can use a little of both. A reasonable three-year deal would perfectly bridge the gap before Martinez is ready to take over the reins full time.
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