New York Mets Looking Ahead: Changes in the 2010 Infield

The Mets have certainly had their fair share of mishaps this season, and there are many things that it can be blamed on. The most popular reason for the Mets’ struggles seems to be the injury bug.

With guys like Reyes, Delgado, Beltran, Perez, Maine and Putz all missing extended time, the Mets are having trouble competing, and they sit 10 games behind the first place Phillies.

It is time to accept reality. This year just isn’t going to be our year. We would be better off looking ahead to free agency to make some infield additions to prepare for the 2010 season. But first, let’s take a look at who will be coming off of the books at season’s end.

We will start at the top with catcher and someone who may have slipped your mind. Brian Schneider will come off of the books this season, and you would think he would most likely be gone, considering how he will be 33 at the start of next season.

But the alternatives don’t really excite me, and I am not convinced that Omir Santos is all of a sudden capable after being a career minor leaguer.

Here are the options:

Brad Ausmus (41)
Paul Bako (38)
Rod Barajas (34)
Josh Bard (32)
Michael Barrett (33) – club option
Henry Blanco (38)
Ramon Castro (34)
Sal Fasano (38)
Toby Hall (34)
Ramon Hernandez (34) – $8.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Jason Kendall (36)
Jason LaRue (36)
Victor Martinez (31) – $7MM club option with a $250K buyout
Bengie Molina (35)
Jose Molina (35)
Miguel Olivo (31) – $3.25MM mutual option
Mike Redmond (39)
Ivan Rodriguez (38)
Brian Schneider (33)
Yorvit Torrealba (31) – $4MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Javier Valentin (34)
Jason Varitek (38) – $5MM club/$3MM player option plus incentives
Vance Wilson (37)
Gregg Zaun (39) – $2MM club option with a $500K buyout

I know what you are thinking. There isn’t much that makes you say, “I want him!” One guy who I think is an interesting case is a year older than Schneider and that is current Reds’ backstop Ramon Hernandez. He currently is on the DL after having left knee surgery, but this is a guy who could be decent if he is in the right situation.

I believe he is capable of doing more with the bat than Schneider, and he has hit 20 homers or more twice in his career. He also has a .989 career fielding percentage, which is just .005 worse than Schneider. He is probably the best option if the Reds cut ties. And no, I didn’t ignore Victor Martinez, but he isn’t going anywhere. Not even worth acknowledging.

The next position that may need filling is first base, because Carlos Delgado’s contract is expiring. Initially, the thought seemed to be that Daniel Murphy would be the heir to the throne, but his bat has been inconsistent to say the least. The Mets need a guy there that hits higher than .240 and has some pop.

Let’s take a look at the options:

Rich Aurilia (38)
Russell Branyan (34)
Miguel Cairo (36)
Frank Catalanotto (36) – $5MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Tony Clark (38)
Carlos Delgado (38)
Nomar Garciaparra (36)
Ross Gload (34) – $2.6MM club option
Eric Hinske (32)
Nick Johnson (31)
Adam LaRoche (30)
Doug Mientkiewicz (36)
Kevin Millar (38)
Chad Tracy (30) – $7MM option with a $1MM buyout
Daryle Ward (35)
Dmitri Young (36) -$6MM option vests with 500 PAs in ‘09

There’s really only one guy from this group who I think fits the mold, and that is Nick Johnson. I worry about what everyone does, and that is his health. This year, he has done everything to convince us that he is good to go, but I still have my reservations. He is a good hitter who gets on base, and his defense is stellar. But is he worth it?

Other guys who caught my eye are Adam LaRoche, who was just dealt to the Red Sox, and Chad Tracy. Neither guy has been in an ideal situation recently. Tracy fell out of favor after starting his D-Backs career out strong.

He had back-to-back 20 homer seasons in ‘05 and ’06, but then he fell out of favor due to Mark Reynolds and his emergence. The Mets really aren’t in a place where they can afford to take chances.

LaRoche is interesting. First of all, he is still a Brave in my mind, and that bothers me a little, but this season has been a bit of a hiccup for him. He has consistently teetered around 20 homers and 85 RBI for the last four years, but those numbers are down. He also strikes out way too much, which makes me believe that the Mets will probably pass.

Do you think they make Delgado an offer to stay? I don’t think that is out of the realm of possibilities.

The last infield spot that needs to be filled is utility guy. Alex Cora is a free agent at season’s end, and he may as well retire.

Let’s see the options:

Ronnie Belliard (35)
Jamey Carroll (36)
Alex Cora (34)
Craig Counsell (39)
Mark DeRosa (35)
David Eckstein (35)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (34)
Orlando Hudson (32)
Akinori Iwamura (31) – $4.25MM club option with a $250K buyout
Adam Kennedy (34)
Felipe Lopez (30)
Mark Loretta (38)
Pablo Ozuna (35)
Placido Polanco (34)
Freddy Sanchez (32) – $8MM club option with a $600K buyout; vests with 600 PAs
Juan Uribe (31)
Orlando Cabrera (35)
Bobby Crosby (30)
Adam Everett (33)
Chris Gomez (39)
Alex Gonzalez (32) – $6MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Khalil Greene (30)
John McDonald (35)
Marco Scutaro (34)
Miguel Tejada (36)
Omar Vizquel (43)
Jack Wilson (32) – $8.4MM club option with a $600K buyout

There are a few guys on this list who are intriguing, including DeRosa, Eckstein, Hudson, Lopez, Polanco, Cabrera, Crosby and Jack Wilson.

But let’s go by process of elimination here. DeRosa, Hudson, Polanco and Lopez will most definitely land starting gigs somewhere, so there is no real reason to have them on the list. Jack Wilson rubs me the wrong way because he is terribly inconsistent.

That leaves us with David Eckstein, Orlando Cabrera, and Bobby Crosby. I would think all are realistic targets. Let’s start with Crosby. It is amazing how his stock has fallen. After the 2004 season, you would’ve thought him to be untouchable.

Now, he can probably be had for a bag of baseballs. Peter Gammons actually picked him to be the AL MVP in ’05, but that didn’t exactly materialize. He hasn’t hit more than nine homers in a season since.

Orlando Cabrera was a pivotal part to bringing a championship to Boston. He also fills the mold of a guy who Omar likes to pluck on the cheap. He is having a decent year, hitting at a .274 clip, and he still has some zip in his bat. The speed is declining and the power isn’t there, but he is a good backup. I wouldn’t mind if the Mets pulled the trigger on him.

My favorite option is Eckstein. I have always been a fan of his, and I was a bit disappointed when the Mets failed to sign him last off season. Eckstein is a gritty player who plays multiple positions.

A career .283 hitter, Eckstein had his best seasons in 2002 and 2005, each of which he tallied eight homers and more than 61 RBI. That won’t happen with him being a part-timer, but we know he is capable.

Changes are coming to the infield, and the only constants will be Reyes, Wright, and Castillo.