Mets Head Into Winter Meetings With A Mission

From the time Omar Minaya was hired as the Mets general manager last year there has been a sense of urgency within the franchise to provide a playoff caliber team. It started last year with the signings of both Carlos Beltran and Pedro Martinez and it has continued this year trading for Carlos Delgado and signing Billy Wagner. With the winter meetings starting tomorrow the Mets are going in determined to fill in their remaining voids. With a lack of big name free agents the winter meetings should be much more talkative then in the past. Now the Omar Minaya has acquired a big bat for the middle of the lineup and a light’s out closer the pressure is off him in these meetings and he can be confident and aggressive. “We are going to be proactive on how we’re going to fill our needs,” said Minaya. The most obvious needs are a second basemen, a catcher, and some more bullpen help mainly a left handed set up man.

The Mets claim that they will not trade Lastings Milledge or Aaron Heilman therefore a Manny Ramirez deal is highly unlikely although there has been much speculation. With Luis Castillo being shipped to the Twins Friday free agent Tony Graffanino is still available at second. Besides Graffanino the Mets have expressed some interest in Devil Rays shortstop Julio Lugo, who was talked about during the potential three way deal last June including the Mets, Devil Rays, and Red Sox. Since Tampa Bay picked up Lugo’s $4.95 million option he would be one of the more expensive alternatives. If the Mets do want to use this money elsewhere they can use either Jeff Keppinger or Anderson Hernandez hoping they show improvement during Spring Training.

One trade rumor that has been circling was a deal including the Baltimore Orioles Jorge Julio for Kris Benson, Benson is the much better talent but this would be a way to save money which would allow the Mets to go after Diamondbacks Javier Vazquez a player coveted by Minaya since his days with the Expos. With a surplus of starting pitchers expect some rearrangement to improve the overall pitching staff. Both Tom Glavine and Pedro Martinez are staying put, Steve Trachsel will probably stay as well considering he has 10-5 veto power and wants to remain in New York. That leaves Benson, Zambrano and Seo as potential trade bait. The Mets will discuss the possibility of a Benson-Vazquez trade. The Diamondbacks claim to have spoken to the Nationals, Braves, and Mets all NL East opponents. Vazquez struggled his last time in NY albeit with the Yankees going 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA in 32 starts. Vazquez will never be a number one or two pitcher in any rotation but has the ability to be a quality end of the rotation type of guy. Vazquez is a guy with a decent fastball approaching 94 MPH a solid changeup which fools left handers and a good curve ball, but has struggled with his control. If Rick Peterson is the pitching genius that he has been portrayed throughout his career, the Mets will be willing to take a chance that he can improve Vazquez’s mechanics.

As the Oakland Athletics recently signed Estaben Loiaza it looks like the last pitcher from the “Big 3” will be on the move and Mets will express interest in Barry Zito. Oakland a team known for slashing payroll as well would probably not take on Kris Benson’s contract therefore a Mets deal to get Benson off their payroll could be a good indication that they want to free up money to go after Zito. Zito was at his best when not considered the ace of the staff as well as under the tutelage of Rick Peterson. A perfect scenario that would be replicated in New York.

With the acquisition of Xavier Nady, Victor Diaz has become more expandable but only if the price is right. The Mets can not afford to deplete their minor league system as they are seeing dividends pay off right now in Jose Reyes and David Wright. The Victor Zambrano for Scott Kazmir trade seems awfully irrational now on the behalf of the Mets and they are looking to avoid a similar mistake in dealing Lastings Miledge. Miledge will most likely assume the left field position next year after Cliff Floyd’s contract is up. Aaron Heilman could become the Mets setup man if a deal is not made, Heilman showed great command last year while put in this role. The Mets dealt their top pitching prospect in Yusmeiro Petit in the Carlos Delgado deal therefore pitching prospects are nearly non existent in the Mets system.

During these winter meetings it is important that the Mets try to acquire bullpen help as they not only need talented relievers, they need arms in general. Currently their bullpen consists of Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman, Juan Padilla and either Jae Seo or Victor Zambrano, the pitcher not included in the starting rotation. In all championship teams a quality bullpen is needed in order to protect leads and close out games throughout the regular season and well into the postseason. On paper the Mets have a productive offense right now and should concentrate on filling their bullpen voids and saving money at the second base position by promoting a player from within rather than going out and spending an unnecessary $5 million. At this time next week things could remain the same or the Mets could have made some key additions and subtractions, not even the Mets know for sure which direction they’ll be headed.