Alderson not conformable with Francisco being his closer

Last night on SNY's Mets Hot Stove,  Sandy Alderson said that he is not conformable with Frank Francisco being the team's closer in 2013. 

"I don't know if we can have a lot of confidence in where we are. I hope that Frankie is able to step up. We've taken a lot of time to look at other possibilities and ways we can shore this up. At this point, we have added some pitching, but more of the front-end of the bullpen as opposed to the back-end. But no, not terribly comfortable, but I hope Frankie, over the next few weeks, does something to dispel that comfort."

Alderson also said that he hopes to add one or two more relievers before the the start of Spring Training, but isn't sure if it will specifically help the back-end of the bullpen.

I am happy that Alderson is now focusing on the bullpen, since it was such a big problem for the Mets in 2012. He has made a few smaller signings, but bringing in a players with proven track records would be a smart move. In my mind, Brian Wilson is the best fit for this team. He would bring a lot of energy to the team both on and off the field, and who can forget about the talent that he possesses. If he recover from Tommy John surgery and be the pitcher of old, then he could be arguably one of the best closers in the National League. That kind of production on a minor league deal would be a great bargain for the Mets.

As for Valverde and K-Rod, both of whom have been connected to the Mets over the last couple of days, I do not want to see them in Queens at anytime during the 2012 season. Both are headcases, and would be a mess in New York. We already know that Rodriguez isn't capable of handling the New York pressure, so moving on from him is a given. Valverde is a decent low-risk, moderate reward pickup, but the injury/aging concerns and the drop in velocity on his fastball is definitely concerning. With that being said, something needs to be done with this bullpen, and if Alderson signs either of these guys on minor league pacts, then I wouldn't be completely against it. However, it is unlikely that either one of these players (specifically Valverde and K-Rod) will settle for a minor league deal, even at this point in the off-season.