Billy Wagner Out for Next Season, New York Mets Don't Know How To Respond

Mets closer Billy Wagner is scheduled to have surgery on a torn medial-collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Some doctors are recommending Tommy John Surgery, a procedure that generally requires at least a year of recovery and rehab before return.

Wagner has not pitched since Aug. 2, after tearing the ligament.

The closer's status raises a concern for the Mets.

Next season is Wagner's last season on contract with the Mets, and the 37-year old closer has talked about retiring after next season. It is quite possible that Wagner's blown save on Aug. 2 against the Astros was the last time that Wagner will ever step on the mound.

Some analysts say that Wagner will probably return for one more season to save 15 more games, putting him at 400 for his career. However, Mets GM Omar Minaya is not so sure.

The Mets must plan for the future.

Luis Ayala, who came over from Washington, has been Wagner's replacement, saving five games in six opportunities. With a 5.32 ERA this season, Ayala is not the closer that Minaya is looking for.

It will be hard for the Mets to experiment with young relievers at this point in the season, considering that they are currently two games ahead of the Phillies for the NL East title. Jerry Manuel does not want to eliminate his team from the playoffs by throwing a new, inexperienced closer for every save opportunity.

Ayala is likely to be the Mets' closer for the rest of the season. If I were a Mets fan, I would not be confident in a one-run game that is taken into the ninth inning. Ayala has been good so far, but his career stats show that he will probably not keep pitching this well.

Francisco Rodriguez, yes, the closer who currently leads the majors with 55 saves, will be a free agent next year.

Minaya has talked about pursuing K-Rod, but K-Rod does not want to speak about the future until after his Angels' season is over.

K-Rod is currently 26-years old, so the Mets would be able to ink him for a long-term contract, if the All-Star closer chooses New York.

If K-Rod is stolen by another team, or goes back to the Angels, the Mets could pursue Brian Fuentes, Eric Gagne, Brandon Lyon, or Kerry Wood.

None of these four compare to Wagner, but they can all do the job...maybe not Gagne.

Right now, the Mets should just be concerned about scoring enough runs so that they don't need to worry about save situations. When a close game in the ninth occurs, the Mets will hope to squirm out alive.

Good luck to the Wagner-less Mets.