Cleaning This New York Mess for 2010

2009 has been a season to forget for the New York Mets.

Injuries have killed their season. So has inconsistent play, un-clutch hitting, bad defense, and just pure bad luck.

In one season, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Fernando Martinez, J.J. Putz, and Billy Wagner have all been on the disabled list for numerous periods of time. Beltran, Reyes and Delgado are three-fourths of the big hitters for the Mets and they have been out of the lineup.

For this year, Omar Minaya can't wave a magic wand to just make the problems all go away. By the end of 2009, who knows if Minaya will even have a job.

I have a feeling if Pedro Martinez, who Minaya let walk away after 2008, has a great run for the Phillies and beats the Mets, his job will really be on the line. The Mets didn't want to shell out the money for Pedro in the offseason and in the end, it might come back and bite them in the rear.

So to look forward already for 2010, I have a plan that could fix the Mets.

For catcher, you let Brian Schneider walk away as a free agent. He's a terrible hitter and a decent defensive catcher. I say go get Jason Varitek, but I doubt Boston will let him walk away and they have an option on him.

So here are a few suggestions: Ramon Hernandez if Cincinnati doesn't pick up his option, Bengie Molina or Miguel Olivo. Any one of them would be an instant upgrade over Brian Schneider. Omir Santos can stay as the backup.

First base, bye-bye Delgado. He really never should have been here for 2008, but because he played well in the second half of 2008, got himself another year. This time, you get rid of Delgado. He's old, brittle, washed up, and not worth the contract.

I'm making a suggestion to sign two first basemen here: Nick Johnson to be the starter and Kevin Millar to be the backup and for clubhouse morale. Johnson isn't a slugger, but adds great defense and a good bat with a good average. Millar is good off the bench and a leader.

Second base, find a way to get rid of Luis Castillo, even if it means releasing him outright. Orlando Hudson wanted to be a Met all along. He only got a one-year deal in L.A. Unless they offer him an extension, you do not screw this up again, and you find a way to bring Hudson to the Mets where he wants to play.

Third base, David Wright is the face of the franchise for the next 15 years. Name him captain and let him assume the actual leader role.

Shortstop, Now, here's where I am going to get creative. Reyes is an immature player who fails in the clutch, but with a ton of talent. However, he needs to go.

You call up the Tampa Bay Rays and you make a trade—Reyes for Carl Crawford and Jason Bartlett. Bartlett isn't Reyes at shortstop, but he's an all-star and playing very well. He'd be a great addition on the Mets.

Left field, With the trade above, Crawford would take over the leadoff spot and left field. Crawford can steal bases, hit for average and power and is not immature like Reyes is, plus he knows how to play in October. Crawford would be an instant fan favorite in Queens.

Center field, Beltran is still one of the best center fielders in the game, leave him alone. He's one of the few on this team I would put up to bat in a clutch situation.

Right field, Jeff Francoeur is now the guy in this spot, and wanted to be a Met for a long time and now he's got his wish. I see him as an upgrade with the bat over Ryan Church, who never fit in with the Mets. Francoeur has a chance to be a steal with this trade.

Starting Pitching

Johan Santana is still the best in the game, you leave him alone—he is your ace. Find a way to trade Perez, he is horrible and never deserved the three year deal to begin with. Trade Ollie for prospects and build back the farm. Maybe even try to trade Maine, he's just so injury-prone.

Mike Pelfrey can stay, but move him down in the rotation. Cut off Tim Redding, he is absolutely horrible. You also probably don't bring back Livan Hernandez either, so with Santana and Pelfrey left, here's who you go after:

Spend big on this rotation, as it has killed you in the past. Sign Brandon Webb to a big-time deal. He's coming off elbow problems in 2009, but who cares, he's better than most and even if he needs time to heal, he'd be the perfect No. 2 behind Santana. Webb is a must for the Mets rotation.

Add Jason Marquis. You could have had him in a trade, but somehow screwed it up. He's a free agent who pitched well in Colorado, is from Long Island and probably would do well in spacious Citi Field. Marquis would be a great No. 3 or 4 in the rotation.

Adding a solid veteran to the back end of the rotation always helps and the Mets are a team that needs to take a chance, sign Jarrod Washburn.

His numbers don't blow you away, but his ERA is always in the 3-area and Seattle never gave him run support. He's 35, pitched a lot for Anaheim and Seattle and maybe could benefit to a move into the National League. Washburn is a pitcher the Mets should look into.

So here would be the 2010 Mets lineup:

1- LF Carl Crawford, 2- 1B Nick Johnson, 3- CF Carlos Beltran, 4- 3B David Wright, 5- RF Jeff Francoeur, 6- 2B Orlando Hudson, 7- SS Jason Bartlett, 8- C Ramon Hernandez, 9- Pitcher's spot.

And here would be the 2010 Mets rotation:

Johan Santana, Brandon Webb, Jason Marquis, Mike Pelfrey, Jarrod Washburn

I know 2010 seems so far away and who knows if any of these moves would even happen for the Mets, but I have made strong suggestions on how to help them improve and get better for 2010.

For you Mets fans, I wish you luck in the rest of your 2009 campaign and I hope it's not a painful one. And if it is, hopefully your offseason will go better and bring hope for the 2010 season.