As I’ve written before, the starting rotation should be fine, and with a little bit of luck, Pedro keeps his sprains and pulls to a minimum. If you’ve been watching even just highlights of the Mets, you’d know this team desperately needs another arm. Secretly I was hoping for Houston Street , even if it meant sending a Kunz or Niese to Oakland , but that Billy Beene is a motherhumper when it comes to asking for every thing but the kitchen sink. The price tag on Ibanez was ridiculous, for what Seattle was reportedly asking for, they should have thrown in Ichiro. I was never that high on Fuentes, particularly because I would have like to have seen a right-handed set up man to pitch the eighth.

The lack of a trade is likely not Omar’s fault; this year’s sellers wanted an arm and leg. If he would have traded two of three of the few prospects the Mets have left, the Mets would be in a deeper hole next year. Not to mention trading away three future stars for a mediocre pitcher isn’t only unwise, it puts an unfair burden on the player coming back. See Victor Zambrano.

The Mets will need a corner outfielder and if Freddy Martinez lives up to half his hype, he is going to be special player, but then again, so was Lastings Milledge and Alex Ochoa. Lets hope he lives up to his ceiling. In the mean time, the Mets have to look elsewhere for help. The Mets should be ok without another outfielder, the most glaring need is for bullpen help. With the deadline come and gone, the Mets must look elsewhere for reinforcements:

The Waiver Wire

The Mets have to look to the trash heap waiver wire to get an arm. Reason would suggest that with pitching at such a shortage, any pitcher worth a darn would be signed by someone. Omar has shown a proficiency with pulling players off the scrap heap. Darren Oliver and Aaron Sele come to mind, not that either one of those players were stoppers or lights out set up men but both gave the Mets a long reliever capable of making a spot start. Of course Omar also brought in Mota so who knows.

The Minors

Jon Niese reportedly had a impressive triple-A debut. Over seven innings Niese gave up one run on three hits, striking out seven and walking two. That’s promising, but this guy probably isn’t major league ready and sure as shit not ready to jump into the rotation. Niese may be shoved into a start due to necessity or if by some reason if the Mets get a big lead over Philly and Florida . Same with Eddie Kunz; both should see late season call ups and figure to be prominent in the Mets staff in 2009 or 2010 but will likely not contribute in a meaningful role baring a heavy hit from the injury bug. I suspect the Mets did not make Bobby Parnell available this off-season to raise his value in November. Look for him to leave via trade over the off-season.

Staff up

The Mets might be able to ease the burden placed on the pen by carrying another pitcher. Why the big league club is carrying three catchers is beyond me. The Mets should send down Cancel and carry 13 pitchers. Even a mop-up/long relief man would take some strain off an already taxed bullpen. Aaron Heilman’s arm is going to fall off at this rate. The pen needs some breathers with only 5 off days from now until the rest of the season, the Mets have no more help from the schedule.

Analysis

The key to keeping this team from another September C word the bullpen has got to be unburdened. Manuel’s instance on starting pitchers going at least seven innings is a good start, but not enough. Offensive explosions and lopsided wins will reduce the need for pitchers to face one and two batters will decrease the work load. With no help on the way everyone has to pitch in and relieve the bullpen.

Oh, there’s a big surprise. That’s incredible. I think I’m gonna have a heart attack and die of not surprise! – Me, after hearing about Alou’s injury

Alou’s out with an injury until mid-May. Should Alou fall off the toilet and break his hip or strain his oblique playing canasta, he could be out until the All-Star Break or longer. Moises Alou is this year’s Pedro Martinez: He might be back at some point, but don’t count on it. It’s time to find someone else to shoulder the load.

I love Endy Chavez, but he isn’t an everyday corner outfielder. Marlon Anderson and Damien Easley platoon? Yuck. Fernando Martinez might see an August call up, but it will be a cup of coffee, at most a doughnut. The Mets, who have no one in the system to press into immediate service, must look outside the organization.

I would write a long rant about trading a young outfielder with potential for a sub par outfielder who strikes out too much and offensively challenged catcher who’s lucky if he hit his weight, but that would be counterproductive. Instead, let’s see who’s out there…

Xavier Nady- Xman would be the ideal candidate. X is one of us, he’s produced well since he left, and when he did leave bringing back Bert Hernandez and Ollie Perez, many teams perceived the offense (the Mets denied it) became susceptible to left-handed pitching. That’s not to say X’s absence was the sole reason for the Mets 2006 late season lag. Injury to Sanchez, El Duque and Pedro had a lot to do with it. None the less, to get X back seems like writing an old wrong in some strange fan-logic. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s much of an incentive for the Pirates to give up X. Pittsburgh would likely value the outfielder’s bat for which they gave up a 15 game winner as a throw in, in Ollie Perez. I don’t see the Pirates giving back Nady no matter how many times you bring up Jason Bay. Bringing Nady back would be idea, however it’s a longshot.

Barry Bonds- The Mets usually don’t sign players I hate, Guillermo Mota being the glaring exception. Besides, replacing an injury prone leftfielder with an injury prone outfielder with a public image problem isn’t really practical. It isn’t happening.

Jeromy Burnitz: Sure he retired about a year ago and bats lefty but as a force of habit I included him in the list of candidates. I always had a hunch that above the GM’s desk at Shea hung a sign that read “When in Doubt, Sign Jeromy Burnitz.” – Bill Shea Stupid Joke

Sammy Sosa- See Barry Bonds except with less talent chemical engineering and less surliness Worn out joke

Nelson Cruz- I stole this idea from Ketchup on your Ice Cream, a great site with the most confusing name on the internet. Call him the Lastings Milledge of the Texas Rangers Organization. Cruz came to Texas via trade from the Brewers organization along with Carlos Lee in exchange for Coco Cordero, Julian Cordero, Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix. Cruz, at the time of the trade was considered a top prospect who possibly could have become the Rangers everyday centerfielder. Last year during spring training GM Jon Daniels, in an interview with 1310 AM in Dallas, said that Cruz had the most power in the organization. One year later it is uncertain whether Cruz makes the team over Jason Botts when the team breaks camp in Surprise, AZ. Texas has lost the services of starter Brandon McCarthy for at least 4-6 weeks due to inflammation in his elbow. Jorge Sosa would likely be attractive to the Rangers as he is moderately priced and has been able to serve in duel capacity both out of the bullpen and as a starter. There is a greater chance that Texas would trade their once high ceiling-ed outfielder than there is that Pittsburgh would part with Nady. The Rangers have seemingly given up on Cruz. In response to an inquiry regarding trade negotiations GM Jon Daniels was quoted as saying, “Lonestar who? Who gave you this number?”

Darkhorse

Note: Nelson Cruz originally signed with the New York Mets as a non-drafted free agent on February 23, 1998, which just happened to be the day the Mets signed Joe Orsulak to a minor league contact. (it sounded more impressive in my head)

Most likely we are going to see a boring combo of Endy, Marlon Anderson and Easley and slug through the first two months of the season hoping to get maximum production out of Beltran and Wright. Until Alou comes back and then gets hurt again, then we can play this game again. Favorite