MLB: Fixing the New York Mets This Offseason, Position by Position

The New York Mets second half of the season has been a disaster. After looking like a potential playoff team, they started to sink faster than the Titanic.

Players that were contributing stopped and they are losing many games they should be winning.

The Mets need to make a lot of moves this offseason in order to get them back on the right track. Here is a look at each position and what the Mets should do at that specific position this offseason.

Offer Josh Hamilton a Long-Term Contract

Before I break down the New York Mets position by position, I will start by saying that the Mets need to make an offer to Josh Hamilton.

There has been so much talk about the Wilpons and whether they are willing to spend money in order to help the Mets win. It has angered many fans and what better way to prove to them that you are committed to them then to try and sign one of the biggest stars in baseball?

There are obvious risks that come along with offering Hamilton a long-term deal, but he is one of the best players in baseball. Hamilton would boost their offense substantially and put butts in the seats at Citi Field.

Even if the Mets don't get Hamilton, just the offer will prove that they are going to do what it takes to win.

If the Mets don't get Hamilton, here is what they should do at each position.

Catcher: Make A.J Pierzynski a Better Offer Than the White Sox

Josh Thole had a good chance this season to prove he can be the Mets starting catcher for the next several seasons. Unfortunately he has struggled offensively with only one home run and 18 RBI. The Mets cannot go on with him in the lineup everyday. Thole should remain on the roster but as the backup catcher.

The Mets should put a veteran catcher in front of Thole which could help his development. It will also give them a legitimate MLB catcher. That player should be A.J Pierzynski.

Pierzynski is coming off of a two-year, $8 million contract with the White Sox. He is having one of the best seasons of his career. 

The Mets need to try and lure Pierzynski from the White Sox with an offer that is better than the one they will most likely make him.

1st Base: Keep Ike Davis and Work on His Hitting Against Lefties

Ike Davis got off to a horrendous start this season but still has 22 home runs and 66 RBI.

The Mets need to keep Davis because he has the potential to be a 35 home run and 100 RBI player. They just need to work on his offense against left-handed pitchers.

2nd Base: Keep Daniel Murphy and Continue to Work on His Defense

There is no doubt that Daniel Murphy is a major league hitter. The issue with him has always been his defense and finding the right position. 

Murphy has played second base this season and actually has done a nice job. He is no where near a Gold Glove, but he has held his own.

The Mets should absolutely keep Murphy and continue to develop him defensively at second.

3rd Base: Give David Wright a Superstar Contract This Offseason

The biggest thing the Mets have to do this offseason is give their franchise player David Wright a long-term deal. It will be an absolute disaster if Wright ends up leaving the Mets.

They don't need to give him a blank check, but a six-year, $120 million contract should get it done.

Shortstop: Keep Ruben Tejada

Ruben Tejada is still very young but he has done a nice job replacing Jose Reyes at shortstop. Tejeda is hitting over .300 this season and as he gets older and starts to enter his prime, his power numbers will increase as well.

Tejada seems like he is going to be a quality shortstop for a long time with the Mets.

Left Field: Trade/Release Jason Bay and Sign Nick Swisher

The other most important thing other than locking up David Wright is getting rid of Jason Bay. The Mets should try and find a team willing to take him and some of his contract.

If they can't find a taker, they have to just eat Bay's contract and release him. It is important for the Mets going forward that they put Bay in their past.

As for the player to replace Bay in left field. That person should be Nick Swisher.

The Yankees seem committed to trying to cut the payroll down to $189 million. With Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano due for big contracts, that leaves Swisher out.

If Swisher becomes a free agent, the Mets should try and keep him in New York. He is a legitimate power hitter and an everyday outfielder. A three-year, $36 million contract should be enough to bring Swisher to Queens.

Center Field: Sign Shane Victorino

Another intriguing free agent is Shane Victorino. He was recently traded from the Phillies to the Dodgers and is going to be a free agent at the end of the season.

Victorino will give the Mets another veteran presence, a leader and a winner. He will also be a relatively cheap option to help improve their team.

Right Field: Lucas Duda vs Righties/Scott Hairston vs Lefties

Two interesting stories for the Mets this season has been Lucas Duda and Scott Hairston. Duda proved he has some power but his poor defense and inconsistent hitting caused him to be sent back down to the minors.

If Duda proved one thing, it is that he can hit right-handed pitching.

Hairston has been one of the best surprises for the Mets this season. He has hit .322 with nine home runs and 27 RBI against left-handed pitching. The issue with him is that he has struggled against righties. He is hitting just .227 against them this season.

The Mets should use Duda against righties and Hairston against lefties. 

Avoid B.J Upton

I have been hearing the name B.J Upton as a possible free agent signing for the Mets. While Upton would give the Mets an everyday outfielder that they need, they should avoid him.

Upton has proven to be a headcase and his lack of effort at times would be a disaster in New York. Are you certain that once Upton gets a long-term contract, he will give 100 percent of his effort?

The Mets do not need another headache.

Starting Pitching: Go with the Youngsters

The Mets seem to have a plethora of talented young starting pitching. Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler and Colin McHugh seem to be promising young players and should be given a serious chance to compete for a spot in the starting rotation.

Harvey is 2-3, but has a 2.73 ERA since being called up at the end of July.

McHugh started his first major league game on Thursday and looked very sharp. He went seven innings giving up only two hits and no runs. While the sample size isn't huge, you have to be happy with the way he pitched.

Wheeler is the Mets top prospect and has pitched very well in the minors this season. Wheeler should be given a chance in spring training to prove whether or not he is ready to be a major league pitcher.

R.A Dickey has a $5 million club option that the Mets shouldn't even question whether they should pick it up or not. Dickey is having a Cy Young type season.

Johan Santana is a mystery. He seemed to be having a strong bounce-back season which included the first no-hitter in Mets history. That no-hitter may have also cost him his season because of the amount of pitches he threw. It is difficult to predict what Santana will be beyond this season.

Relief Pitching: Clean House

The Mets' bullpen has been an absolute disaster this season. Plain and simple, they need to wipe out their entire bullpen except for probably Frank Francisco and Bobby Parnell.

Relief pitchers are always hit or miss and they need to bring in some new faces to go in the bullpen. Also, when Mike Pelfrey finally returns from Timmy John Surgery, he should stay in the bullpen.

Some names the Mets could bring in include Micah Owings, Kyle Farnsworth, Bobby Jenks and Francisco Rodriguez.

How the 2013 New York Mets Will Look

Here is a potential batting order for the Mets in 2013.

1. Shane Victorino

2. Daniel Murphy

3. David Wright

4. Nick Swisher

5. Ike Davis

6. A.J Pierzynski

7. Scott Hairston/Lucas Duda

8. Ruben Tejada

9. (Starting Pitcher)

Here is a potential starting rotation for the Mets in 2013.

1. Johan Santana

2. R.A Dickey

3. Matt Harvey

4. Jon Niese

5. Colin McHugh