This is a cut and paste from Mets.com as the title says, I added my comments under each section.. If you're not interested in reading an article about the Mets you can ignore this entry..
CONTRACT ISSUES
Free agents:
Alou, OF; Fernando Tatis, OF; Damion Easley, 2B; Perez, LHP; Martinez, RHP; Hernandez, RHP; Luis Ayala, RHP; Ricardo Rincon, LHP; Matt Wise, RHP.
The only people I could see even trying to keep from this list of free agents is Oliver Perez and Pedro Martinez. I would only take Pedro back if it were a cheap contract. Perez was good for us, but his agent is Scott Borras which probably means he will want way too much money for what he is worth.
Club options: Delgado, 1B, $12 million, $4 million buyout
We need to pick him up for next year.. He had an amazing 2nd half.
CATCHERS
Brian Schneider, .257 BA, 9 HR, 38 RBIs
Ramon Castro, .245 BA, 7 HR, 24 RBIs
Robinson Cancel, .245 BA, 1 HR, 5 RBIs
Though Schneider fell into a platoon with Castro by midsummer, injuries robbed the latter of his playing time down the stretch. Regardless, they both remain under contract for 2009, and complement each other quite well -- Schneider is the superior defender; Castro the superior hitter. Cancel, who filled in adequately when Castro went on the disabled list, should again battle for a roster spot in Spring Training.
Problem is that there really are not any great catchers out there. It's a position we could upgrade but, it's not a huge priority.
FIRST BASE
Carlos Delgado, .271 BA, 38 HR, 115 RBIs
Delgado's $12 million club option for 2009 promised to be one of this offseason's most intriguing Mets sagas, until he exploded with a second-half power surge that made him a legitimate NL MVP candidate. Now it's a near certainty that the Mets will retain Delgado, though they would be wise to find a suitable backup. Nick Evans, a first baseman throughout his Minor League tenure, could fill that role.
Unless we could pull something crazy off and get Ryan Howard or Mark Teixeira we should pick up Delgado's contract for next year.
SECOND BASE
Luis Castillo, .245 BA, 46 runs, 17 SBs
Damion Easley, .269 BA, 6 HRs, 44 RBIs
Argenis Reyes, .218 BA, 13 runs, 2 SBs
When the Mets signed Castillo to a four-year deal prior to this season, they limited their flexibility at second base. Castillo underwent offseason knee surgery, spent much of the year on the disabled list and, at 33 years old, is liable to endure similar uncertainty over the final three years of his contract. Reyes, meanwhile, proved to be a nice surprise for the Mets and a fine defensive replacement. And though Damion Easley became quite a productive hitter in Castillo's absence, he also has injury issues and could leave through free agency. The wild card here is Daniel Murphy, a natural third baseman who will receive reps at second base in the Arizona Fall League.
This position stinks! How the hell did we get tricked into signing Castillo to a four-year deal?! If Daniel Murphy can play 2B I say let him with Argenis Reyes as his backup.
SHORTSTOP
Jose Reyes, .297 BA, 16 HR, 113 runs, 56 SBs
Despite a lengthy April slump and a downtick in stolen bases, Reyes enjoyed perhaps his most productive season yet with the Mets. He remains a cornerstone of the franchise and is signed through the 2010 season. And, barring injury, he should play close to every game at shortstop next year.
THIRD BASE
David Wright, .302 BA, 33 HR, 124 RBIs
Unquestionably the face of the Mets along with Reyes, Wright is signed through 2012 and should continue to be an MVP candidate every season. His average and on-base percentage were down this season, but that's hardly reason to worry. Wright still led the Mets in RBIs and entrenched himself in the third spot of the lineup. Like Reyes, he should start nearly every game at his position next season.
OUTFIELD
Carlos Beltran, .284 BA, 27 HR, 112 RBIs, 25 SB
Ryan Church, .276 BA, 12 HR, 49 RBIs
Daniel Murphy, .313 BA, 2 HR, 17 RBIs
Endy Chavez, .267 BA, 30 runs, 6 SB
Nick Evans, .257 BA, 2 HR, 9 RBIs
Angel Pagan, .275 BA, .346 OBP, 13 runs
Marlon Anderson, .210 BA, 1 HR, 10 RBIs
Fernando Tatis, .297, 11 HR, 47 RBIs
Quite a pleasant surprise down the stretch for the Mets, Murphy could battle in Spring Training to become the starting left fielder -- at the least, barring a move to the infield, he should remain in a left-field platoon with Evans. Church, assuming health, should start in right field, while Beltran is entrenched in center field through 2011. Chavez, who signed a two-year deal prior to last season, will return as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner, and Pagan, a surprise early in the year, will have to prove his health in order to make the Opening Day roster. Anderson is under contract for 2009 and could return primarily as a pinch-hitter. And the final player who received significant playing time this season, Tatis, is a free agent. In all likelihood, he will either retire or hook on with another team.
Chavez in LF.. Beltran in CF.. Church in RF.. Daniel Murphy should be at 2B, if he can't play 2B than he should platoon with Chavez.
ROTATION
Johan Santana, 16-7, 2.53 ERA, 206 Ks
John Maine, 10-8, 4.18 ERA, 122 Ks
Mike Pelfrey, 13-11, 3.72 ERA, 110 Ks
Oliver Perez, 10-7, 4.22 ERA, 180 Ks
Pedro Martinez, 5-6 5.61 ERA, 87 Ks
Jonathon Niese, 1-1, 7.07 ERA, 11 Ks
Perhaps the Mets' greatest strength this season, their starting rotation will be their most pressing issue this offseason. Santana and Pelfrey will be back, and so will Maine -- after surgery to remove a bone spur from his right shoulder. Beyond that, nothing is certain. Perez and Martinez are both free agents, and neither is likely to return. Niese made three starts down the stretch for the Mets, and -- along with Bobby Parnell -- could be in line to battle for a starting gig in camp. But it's a near certainty that the Mets will delve into the free-agent market this winter -- with their eyes on CC Sabathia, among others.
Do we break the bank on CC Sabathia? I think so.. I would like to see us resign Perez too if we can get him at normal money.. That would give us Santana, Sabathia, Maine, Perez, Pelfrey which would be one kick ass rotation.
BULLPEN
Billy Wagner, 0-1, 2.30 ERA, 27 saves
Aaron Heilman, 3-8, 5.21 ERA, 3 saves
Luis Ayala: 1-2, 5.50 ERA, 9 saves (with Mets)
Pedro Feliciano, 3-4, 4.05 ERA
Scott Schoeneweis, 2-6, 3.34 ERA
Joe Smith, 6-3, 3.55 ERA
Duaner Sanchez, 5-1, 4.32 ERA
Brian Stokes, 1-0, 3.51 ERA
Ineffective nearly all season long (but especially down the stretch), the bullpen will take on a different shape without Wagner, who is expected to miss nearly all of next season following left elbow surgery. Luis Ayala, who filled in during Wagner's absence, could return in that same role. But more likely, the Mets will look elsewhere to acquire a closer, either through trades or free agency. Certainly, they'll also explore middle relief options, in part because their core -- Heilman, Feliciano and Sanchez -- performed well below expectations. Schoeneweis and Stokes did enjoy much-improved seasons, but neither can provide any sort of guarantee from year-to-year. All of which means that Smith, primarily employed as a right-handed specialist for the first two years of his career, could assume an even greater role in 2009.
I think Feliciano, Heilman and Sanchez will rebound next year, I think the over-use that Randolph put on them in the beginning of the season just stayed with them for the rest of the year. If those three rebound and Smith, Stokes and Schoeneweis continue to pitch good we would have a good bullpen.. Well, except for the closer role.. Everyone we have has proven they can't close.. We need to do anything we can to get Francisco Rodriguez, he is a free agent this year and has proven himself to be the best closer in the game right now.
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