New York Mets: 10 Players to Watch in 2012

Although the New York Mets are set up to fail in 2012, the one department they will win at next season will be interesting storylines.

The Mets brass can try and avoid the rebuilding word all they want, but it's no secret this team is being dismantled in order to prepare for the future and, if all goes well, new ownership.

There will be no shortage of players to watch next season. Whether they are key to the present or just pieces developing for that future. Here are 10 Mets to watch in 2012.

Jason Bay

Perhaps one of the most intriguing players of 2012 will be Jason Bay. New York has decided to move in the fences at Citi Field, and it'll be interesting to see if Bay can reach the type of production he had with the Boston Red Sox.

That might be out of reach at this point for Bay, who has become as big a bust in Mets history as they've ever had, but even if he can prove to be somewhat consistent and productive, a team competing for a World Series might consider making the move.

If he can contribute enough to the first half of the Mets season, New York might be lucky to move him and his entire contract, further cutting payroll. Although that would be more than enough for general manager, Sandy Alderson, he might be able to squeeze out a decent prospect or two in the deal to help down the road.

Johan Santana

It's pretty funny to think there were many fans out there who wanted a start from Johan Santana at the end of 2011. It's funny because Santana might not even be ready on time for this upcoming season.

If the Mets can get 25 starts out of Santana, that would be a gift. He's had several injury problems and, quite honestly, hasn't worked out the way New York had hoped he would.

Still, if Santana can put together a decent season, there's a chance he could be moved; but don't expect his entire contract to be taken. The Mets would be lucky if a team is willing to pick up half of the remaining money on his deal.

A healthy Santana can still be a productive pitcher in this league, and even if he isn't traded, he can still create a buzz if he pitches well. If there is an outside chance the Mets compete next season, Santana must be on the mound.

Ruben Tejada

With Jose Reyes leaving to the Miami Marlins, Ruben Tejada finds himself as the starting shortstop for the Mets.

Reyes was easily one of the more memorable Mets in franchise history and will be difficult to replace at the top of the lineup. Tejada will have big shoes to fill but showed some promise in hitting .284 and driving in 36 runs in 328 at-bats.

Tejada may not be the explosive player that Reyes was for New York, but those types of players don't come around often. So far, it seems Tejada has the ability to be an everyday shortstop in the MLB.

R.A. Dickey

The watch on R.A. Dickey starts not on his first start of the season, but instead when he embarks on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for a charity event he's taking part in. I know it's for charity, but couldn't he just donate money?

I guess with the prospects of the Mets season looking dim, this might be the most exciting thing he gets to do all year.

The Mets are clearly not happy about this and if anything happens to the knuckle-baller, New York would happily void his contract and get out of paying him money.

Let's hope, in this instance, the Wilpons don't love money that much.

Zack Wheeler

The Carlos Beltran trade ended a tenure of failure, and the only thing the Mets have to show for it is Zack Wheeler.

The top pitching prospect out of the San Francisco Giants organization is now in Flushing and will almost certainly make an appearance in the Mets rotation in 2012.

Whether sooner or later, if Wheeler can show he is a front-end-of-the-rotation-type starter, he will provide some excitement towards not only this season but seasons to come.

He is one of the most important young players in the Mets' future plans.

Lucas Duda

Splitting time between first base and the outfield in 2011, Lucas Duda looked pretty impressive. In only 301 at-bats, Duda hit .292 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI.

With Ike Davis likely to take back his full-time job at first base, Duda will spend most of his time in the outfield and will try to prove he is worthy of being a full-time starter for years to come. One who can provide the type of offense you'd expect from your corner outfielder.

Not to mention the fact that since the Mets will be looking for cheap offense moving forward and with their dwindling roster, Duda will have an opportunity to prove he is the answer not only now but in the upcoming years, as the Mets try and rebuild their roster.

David Wright

Will he stay or will he go? That's the question everyone will be asking during the first half of the season and right up until the trade deadline.

David Wright has been one of the Mets' core guys during his career, and the thought of him leaving is unthinkable. If Wright can put up the numbers he's capable of, he'll be the most valuable trade target on any competing team's wish list.

This will be a story to follow the entire season, as the Mets try and decide if Wright is a part of their future.

Jeurys Familia and Matt Harvey

I grouped these two in the same slide, because they are both the best of the best that the Mets have in their farm system right now as far as starting pitching is concerned.

Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia are on the cusp of being big-league starters for New York. With the Mets starting rotation looking thin for 2012, you have to figure at least one or both of these pitchers will get a shot in the majors.

The Mets need to be careful and not rush them up, as well as not allowing both to rot in the bullpen. If New York is to bring these guys up in 2012, there's needs to be spots for them in the rotation.

If both can succeed in their first season in the MLB, the Mets' future starting rotation would be looking a lot better than it does now.

Ike Davis

If all works out, Ike Davis could be the Mets cornerstone first baseman for years to come, after an impressive showing in 2010, hitting .264 with 19 home runs and 71 RBI in his rookie season.

In 2011, Davis missed the majority of the season due to injury, but he still produced a .302 average with seven home runs and 25 RBI.

Clearly, Davis has the potential to be a staple for the Mets at first base in the future. But he needs to stay healthy, and that will be the talk all year long.

Since he won't cost much, it's likely even if he gets injured, the Mets will ride him until the wheels fall off or he succeeds. Whichever comes first.

Jose Reyes

I don't care what any Met fan says, they will be closely watching the box score of every game Jose Reyes plays in.

Why would they put themselves through that?

Well, it's to justify that Reyes was never worth the money or the years that the Mets refused to offer him. It's safe to say that Mets fans don't exactly wish him well; and if he was have a bad season or be injured, GM Sandy Alderson and the Wilpons wouldn't look so bad.

Well, I wouldn't go that far about the Wilpons, but you get the idea.