How can Alderson fix the bullpen?

In 2012, the Mets' bullpen was easily the weakest area of the team, and Sandy Alderson has stated his intention on improving it. Last winter, he signed Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco to become mainstays at the back end of the bullpen, but both of those signings did not go as well as planned. Rauch was inconsistent for the majority of the season, and Francisco was a mess both on and off the field. 

The Mets are going to have trouble winning games in 2013, and blown saves can be something that can devastate a team. That raises the question: How can Alderson fix the bullpen? Luckily for him, there are several pitchers out there who would fit perfectly in New York. I'm talking about Brian Wilson, Matt Capps, Brett Myers, and even Jose Valverde. Wilson is coming off Tommy John surgery, and his value is extremely low. That makes him a great player to buy-low on, and possibly ship off at the deadline if he finds success. Capps and Myers both have experience as a closer, and may demand a two year deal, but if the price is right I see no reason not to give it to them. Finally, Valverde would be a clear upgrade over anyone in the current bullpen, but I am quite aware of his off-the-field issues. Like Wilson, his value is low at the moment, so perhaps he would take a slight pay cut.

The Mets obviously need more options, because they simply cannot go after the bigger named free agents given their financial problems. It is up to Alderson and Co. to find those lower-tiered players, buy them for cheap, and utilize them at the major league level. 

If the season started today, the club would have Francisco as it's closer, and Bobby Parnell as it's setup man. I, as well as many other Met fans, am not a fan of Francisco, but I do like Parnell quite a bit. He hasn't been able to handle the spotlight of being a closer, but I am confident that he and his 100 mph fastball can become a dominant setup man in the not-so-near future. Besides Parnell, the rest of the bullpen is basically filled with rookies. Josh Edgin will most likely make the team out of Spring Training, but Robert Carson, Jeurys Familia, and Elvin Ramirez need to have more time at the big league level before I make a more accurate judgement about them. 

In conclusion, Alderson still has a whole lot of work to do this off-season. He addressed the catching situation by acquiring Travis d'Arnaud from the Blue Jays a few weeks ago, but he still needs to upgrade his outfielders and his bullpen arms. The bullpen is more important then people realize, and if he doesn't make any improvements, you can expect to see an ugly 2013 season. 

3 reasons to believe that the Mets will be contenders within 3 years

Us Mets fans have taken a lot of crap within the last few years, and it seems like it has been getting progressively worse. We often dream of the good old days when the Mets would contend with each passing year, and it seems like forever since the club has been relevant. Ownership hasn't fully committed to a rebuild of the roster, and that is concerning, but it is good to know that the team is looking toward the future. The R.A. Dickey trade is a perfect example of that. Are the Mets going to be good in 2013? Probably not, but will they be good by 2015? Its very realistic to think that. So, here are my three reasons to believe that this team will be in contention by the 2015 season.

The core is going to stay intact

David Wright is the heart and soul of this team, and most fans can agree with me when I say that he has the capability of carrying this team. However, he is starting to notice some talent around him in the lineup. Wright is going to be here for a long time, as well as Ike Davis and Ruben Tejada, both of whom are improving rapidly and are going to be here for the foreseeable future. This core is capable of breaking out and becoming a force to be reckoned with.

The Starting Rotation

Think about it. The Mets wouldn't have dealt R.A. Dickey if they did not believe they had enough pitching to contend within the next couple of years. The trio of Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaaard could be one of the best in baseball, and Alderson could look to sign a big name free agent pitcher next off-season. With Johan Santana coming off the books, that will give him quite a bit of payroll flexibility in the free agent market. Also, we can't forget about Jon Niese and Dillon Gee, both of whom, especially Niese, are players who will be here long-term.

The NL East is getting weaker

The National League East went from being one of the best divisions in baseball to an average division all within one year or so. The Mets are probably a fourth place team right now, but if you look at them in three years they could be a second or even first place team due to the lack of competition. Now, I'm not gonna say that they are going to have a record under .500 and still finish in first place because that will not happen, this isn't football. What I'm saying is that these teams, most notably the Phillies, and beginning to see the end of their dynasty of success, and the Mets are going to have to capitalize on it. The Nationals and Braves are going to be tough, but fortunately the Marlins will not be relevant for the next four or five years if lucky. 

Obviously not everything goes according to plan, and I understand that, but it is obvious that the Mets will be a better ball-club in a few years, and most of us Met fans understand that. Roster changes are going to be made, and this team will eventually start winning more ball-games. Hopefully the team doesn't over-hype the trio of Wheeler-Harvey-Syndergaard like they did with Generation K back in the 1990's. You never know what these players will turn out to be, and that is the great thing about baseball. The game isn't played on paper, and that is why I believe the Mets will be a breakout team in this league very soon, and gain respectability amougst fellow teams. 

Saunders, Marcum, Myers seeking two year deals, should the Mets even bother?

According to Lavelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Joe Saunders, Shaun Marcum, and Brett Myers are all seeking two year deals this off-season. Last week, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post said that the Mets were interested in Saunders and Marcum, as well as Carl Pavano, Francisco Liriano (who signed with Pittsburgh shortly after) and Chris Young. 

I'll stick to my word and continue to say that Marcum is the best pitcher out there. The team can get him for cheap considering that his injury-plagued 2012 season completely threw off his value as a pitcher. A two year deal for him isn't a crazy request, and I definitely expect him to get it from someone. 

Saunders, like I said a few days ago, wouldn't be a terrible option as long as the price is right. He has had success in the American League and I would imagine that his numbers would improve in the NL East, so perhaps he would be a decent addition.

I would not give Myers a two year deal, simply because of his age. He had a good season with the Astros in 2012, but kind of struggled after he was traded to the White Sox. His inconsistency kind of scares me, but you know that he will give you innings, and that is currently what the Mets are looking for. Like I said a two year deal is the wrong path to go down here, but if they could get him for cheap on a one year deal I'd certainly agree to that.

I feel like the Liriano deal of last week really set the bar for the pitcher's market this off-season. Obviously once Greinke came off the board, all of the second-tiered pitchers' values came up, and now we are starting to see some teams being desperate enough to give them huge contracts (Edwin Jackson for example.) I know for a fact that Alderson is being very careful in this year's market, and will hesitant to give anyone a multiyear deal. But like I said, Shaun Marcum would be the best option out of all these pitcher's, and I can certainly see Alderson signing him. 

Mets sign Laffey to minor league deal

The Mets have signed pitcher Aaron Laffey to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite. Laffey, a left handed thrower, split time between the Blue Jays' big league team and their Triple-A affiliate in 2012, posting a 4.56 ERA in 22 games (16 starts) with the major league club. 

Moves like this need to obviously be done, and I definitely don't mind it. From what I can gather, Blue Jays fans seemed somewhat content with what Laffey was able to provide last season. He was pretty much an innings eater, but still posted a respectable ERA considering that he was playing in the AL East, which is notorious for it's dangerous hitters. 

As for Laffey's impact, if he makes the team, he'll most likely be a long-man in the bullpen or possibly the #5 starter depending on whether Alderson signs any more veteran pitchers. Like I said before, I am not totally against this move, and I would give him a crack at the rotation. He could eat up some innings until Wheeler is ready in May or June. 

Mets looking at a few veteran starting pitchers

The Mets have been looking at several veteran starting pitchers over the last few days to fill in the void left by R.A. Dickey. Now that Dickey is in Toronto, the rotation is obviously weaker, and Alderson is going to have to sign a few innings-eater options to fill out the back of the rotation. According to reports, he has been looking at Joe Saunders, Carl Pavano, and Shaun Marcum. Those obviously aren't the names that we want to hear, but given the financial constraints that Alderson currently has, I suppose they will work for now.

Saunders, in my opinion, would be a great pickup because he is durable, and would probably take a one year deal. He is a crafty left handed pitcher who would probably slide into the 4th spot in the rotation, and I would expect him to cost $4-5 million on a one year deal. He had quite a bit of post-season success with Baltimore last year, so Alderson could ship him to a contender at the deadline like the Diamondbacks did in the summer. 

Pavano is a name that I would certainly stay away from, even though he has been an innings-eater for most of his career. Lately he has had trouble staying healthy, and is a pitcher that throws to contact, which is something to stay away from. He wouldn't cost much, but his inconsistency would kill him in New York. I expect him to get a minor league deal from someone, just not the Mets.

As for Marcum, he would actually he a low-risk, high reward signing. We all know that he can pitch like an ace when healthy, but the problem is he's always on the disabled list with an elbow or shoulder injury. His health history is shaky, so he may take a one year, incentive-based deal to boost up his value. I would imagine that the Brewers would like him back, so they could perhaps outbid the Mets, but he is certainly a name that I'd consider bringing in.

I fully expect Alderson to use the remaining money that he has available on a starting pitcher (or two), and an outfielder. There is always the possibility of bringing in a Chris Young-type player on another one year deal, and I believe that that route is the right one to go down. Bring in low risk players, and ship him off at the deadline. 

Should the Mets sign Derek Lowe?

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, five teams are interested in signing veteran pitcher Derek Lowe as a swing-man, but he would like to start next season. Lowe feels like he can still be productive as a starter despite posting a 5.11 ERA in 38 appearances (21 starts) for the Indians and Yankees last season. Lowe also has said that he isn't contemplating retirement, and hopes to sign a contract sometime in January. 

This raises the question: should the Mets target Lowe? He would be relatively cheap, is a good veteran presence, and is durable. The problem is he is a pitcher that pitches to contact, and the Mets already have a player like that in Dillon Gee. If the Mets were to sign him, I'd expect that he would slide into the rotation until Zack Wheeler is called up sometime in May or June. However, I don't expect Lowe to be satisfied if he would have to resort to a bullpen role, so perhaps he would want to stay away from the Mets.

Overall, Lowe has had a great amount of success throughout his career, but I don't think he'll come to Mets because the team probably won't keep him in the rotation for a long time. Yet again, he could be a piece that Alderson brings in on a minor league deal and, if he has success, trades him at the deadline for a small prospect or two. Alderson has done that in the past, and it wouldn't surprise me if he signs Lowe with that intention. 

Outfield options for the Mets in 2013

When the Mets completed the R.A. Dickey trade, many were surprised that they did not acquire an outfielder, because the outfield is a big question mark both short-term and long-term right now. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, I would imagine, is almost a shoe-in to be the team's starting center-fielder now that Andres Torres has signed with San Francisco. The two corner outfield spots, however, are incredibly weak and will have to be upgraded if this team wants a respectable lineup in 2013. 

We don't know what we are going to get out of Lucas Duda in left field, but he can certainly be upgraded. We know that he plays below-average defense, and has some flaws in his swing that could hold him back next season. I wouldn't mind if the club trades him, but I believe that the organization, for some reason, thinks very highly of him, therefore he'll probably stay put. In right field, Mike Baxter is pretty much slated to be the starter right now due to the lack of options. Baxter is more of a bench player, and I don't think he'll hold onto the everyday job. So, the Mets are going to have to make some moves, and I can see Alderson making a few small trades or signings within the next month or two.

Options for the Mets in 2013

Grady Sizemore- Sizemore would be a great low-risk, high-reward signing because we all know that he could play like a top outfielder when healthy. He steals bases, hits home runs, and plays above-average defense. The problem is he is never on the field, so there is some risk involved here. He will most likely get an incentive-based deal, and several reports have said that the Mets are "very interested" in him, so that is good.

Scott Hairston- I realize that some Mets fans do not want Hairston back because he will most likely never hit 20+ homers in a single season again, but I honestly wouldn't mind seeing him on the bench again. He is a great bench player to have because he gives Collins a good pinch hitter for late-game situations, but the problem is he is going to ask for a multi-year deal. However, he seems like he wants to come back to the Mets, so perhaps a hometown discount would be involved.

Jason Kubel- The Diamondbacks recently signed Cody Ross, and are now shopping some of their outfielders. I am not a huge Kubel fan, and I realize that he is like Lucas Duda out in the field, but he is still an upgrade over Baxter. I wouldn't completely overpay for him, but I would definitely inquire.

Scott Podsednik- The Mets need a lead-off hitter with speed, and that is exactly what Podsednik brings to the table. He is at the end of his career, so he may not be as fast as he once was, but would be a great veteran presence in that clubhouse. It would probably take a minor league deal to bring him to Queens. 

Who exactly is Travis d'Arnaud?

Now that the R.A. Dickey trade is finally official, we can move on with our lives and look at this team's state as the New Year approaches. We will most likely see a couple of new faces come Spring Training, and one of them is going to be Travis d'Arnaud, who the Mets acquired as the center-piece of the R.A. Dickey trade. 

d'Arnaud was initially drafted by the Phillies, but was shipped to Toronto in the Roy Halladay trade a few years ago. He put up impressive offensive numbers in the minor leagues, and coming into the 2012 season MLB.com ranked him as the 11th best prospect in the game. He was also named the best defensive catcher in a 2011 poll of Double-A managers.

One thing that is concerning about d'Arnaud is his health history. He has had two knee surgeries so far, but the Mets' doctors do not seemed to be concerned at all. He missed the end of last season following a torn PCL, and should be ready this Spring. However, I expect that the organization will take a conservative approach with him, and possibly start him in the minor leagues. Alderson said that he'll take a look at him in Spring Training, and take it from there.

Honestly I feel like this kid is something special, probably because it has been a while since we have had a legitimate MLB catcher. His idol is Mike Piazza, whom he also bases his game off of. Personally, I don't know about you but I'd love to see this kid turn into Mike Piazza. Yet again, lets not get too far ahead of ourselves because he hasn't had a single MLB at-bat yet. 

Mets acquire Collin Cowgill

The Mets have acquired outfielder Collin Cowgill from the Athletics in exchange for third baseman prospect Jefry Marte. After the R.A. Dickey trade, GM Sandy Alderson said on a conference call that he was working on a trade to bring in an outfielder. Even after this trade, the Mets will most likely bring in more outfielders that can fill out bench next season.

Cowgill came over to the Athletics in the Trevor Cahill deal last winter. He put up good numbers in the minor leagues, but hasn't really gotten the chance to prove himself at the big league level. He missed most of the 2012 season with an ankle injury, and is known for not only his speed and defense, but his clubhouse support and gritty attitude as well.

Marte has been a well regarded prospect for quite some time with the Mts, but it was evident that he wasn't going to get playing time at the big league level with Wilmer Flores, Zack Lutz and David Wright blocking him on the depth chart. The 21 year old hit .251 in 513 Double-A plate appearances in 2012, and also made 16 errors. He should eventually see a reasonable amount of playing time with Oakland in the future if he continues to develop.

Personally I like this trade because it gives the Mets a player that can platoon with Mike Baxter to start the season. I don't think Cowgill is going to wow anyone with his stats, but he does provide some depth at each outfield position, and is a right handed hitter, which means that Hairston may be on his way out. It is a low risk move, because Marte wasn't really going to get a fair shot with this organization. Marte's defense also worries me, so I doubt that this move is one that the Mets will deeply regret. 

Mets trade Dickey to Toronto, acquire some top-notch prospects

The Mets have officially traded knuckle-baller R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays. The deal was completed this afternoon once Dickey passed his physical and agreed to a three-year extension with the Blue Jays. The Mets will also send catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas to Toronto. The Mets will receive top catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud (No. 17 overall in the MLB, according to Baseball America) , pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard, veteran catcher John Buck, and outfielder Wuilmer Becerra. 

Ah, where to begin? Dickey was incredible during his Mets' tenure, and I wish him nothing but the best. Hopefully he teams up with Jose Reyes and leads the Blue Jays to success, because I'd like to see Toronto giving the Yankees a hard time in 2013. Dickey said all the right things in his couple of years in New York, and became open to some problems that he experienced as a child. He became a role model to many, and showed that success can be discovered through the knuckle-ball. His demands weren't too high, but we all knew that, from Mets perspective, a trade was going to happen. 

As for Thole, it is a bittersweet moment to see him leave. Thole looked pretty darn good when he first came up, but his lack of power really held back his development. He also had the tough task of handling the knuckle-ball, which is probably the reason that the Blue Jays wanted him. Will he have success in 2013? I don't know, but I wish him the best as well.

As for Nickeas, not much can really be said about him. I thought that the Mets were going to give up a "prospect" in this trade, and Nickeas is not a prospect by any means. The Blue Jays can have him, because he is a third-string catcher at best. Supposedly he works well with his pitchers, but I doubt that he finds his way on the 25-man roster in Toronto.

Now, time for the fun part. The center-piece of this deal was Travis d'Arnaud, and he has incredible upside. He will turn 24 in February, and hit .333 with 16 home runs in Triple-A last season before his season got cut short following knee surgery. Some have speculated that he may have knee problems, but the Mets have apparently reviewed his medical records and everything seems fine. I am excited to see what d'Arnaud can do and I am curious to see if he'll start the season in Triple-A. (I will do an independent article with more detail on d'Arnaud, as well as the other players that were acquired.)

Next we have Noah Syndergaard, who has incredible upside as well. He is 6'5'', and apparently has a blazing fastball. He is only 20 years old, so don't expect to see him in the big leagues anytime soon. I'll say he gets a cup of coffee with the team in 2014, and moves into the rotation by 2015. 

The Mets also acquired John Buck, who will probably begin the season as the Opening Day catcher if d'Arnaud starts out in the minor leagues. Buck has some power to his bat, but strikes out way to much and plays below-average defense. New York also has to pay his $6 million salary for 2013, so that is definitely a bummer.

Finally we have Wuilmer Becerra, who was the final piece of the trade. The 18 year old outfielder had a minor stint with one of the Blue Jays' minor league affiliates in 2012, and broke his jaw on a hit-by-pitch that ultimately ended his season. I don't know what Becerra will become, but he could be a sleeper player in this deal if he ends up panning out.

To conclude all of this, us Mets fans have endured some crazy rumors over the last couple of weeks, but now that a decision has finally been made on Dickey, and Wright for that matter, the organization can move forward and look to continue this rebuilding process. I don't expect the Mets to contend in 2013, but I do expect the club to go out and acquire some more players. The rotation needs to be filled out, and outfield help is needed. So, farewell R.A. Dickey, and thank you for all your contributions.

(Like I said earlier, I will be doing individual articles on each of the players the Mets received in this deal, so stay tuned.) 

Recapping the latest R.A. Dickey News

The Mets and Blue Jays have been working on a seven player trade, including R.A. Dickey, for the last few days, and there is a good chance that it will become official tomorrow afternoon. There have been conflicting reports on the package that the Mets will be getting in return, but today we learned of the possible framework on the trade.

So, the Mets will be getting top catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud, pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard, veteran backstop John Buck, and another prospect in the deal. New York will be giving up Dickey, as well as catcher Josh Thole, and a prospect.

I'll save my opinions until the trade is actually official, but I will say that this is a move that I am surprised Alderson is able to make. I thought he'd be lucky to get a Mike Olt-Leonys Martin-type of a package out of Dickey, but he is getting creative and adding more pieces to the deal. The two sides have been negotiating for quite a while, so hopefully the trade doesn't die out.

Like I said, once this trade becomes official, you can expect to see more of a response out of me. However, the Mets tend to surprise many of us, and for all we know that prospect that they are sending over could be a Wilmer Flores-Jenry Mejia type of a prospect, or a lower-tiered player such as Josh Satin, Zack Lutz or Cory Mazzoni.

The Mets have been unfair to R.A. Dickey

Throughout this entire off-season, we have heard a countless amount of trade rumors involving R.A. Dickey and teams like the Blue Jays, Rangers, and Red Sox. Since the Mets and R.A. have had trouble agreeing on an extension, a trade seems likely, and that is sad considering that the Mets are too cheap to give the man what he wants. Supposedly, the Mets originally offered Dickey a 2 yr, $14 million deal, which is completely insulting to him. When you see guys like Dan Haren making $13 million for one season, you would have to imagine that Dickey would be worth at least that much. However, the team continues to low-ball him, and it is really becoming outrageous now. 

Apparently, according to several reports, Dickey turned down a public appearance last week, which did not please Jeff Wilpon. Also, the organization is concerned about his off-the-field activities and how it may impact his performance and clubhouse presence. If you ask me, that has to be biggest bunch of crap that I have heard in a long time. Dickey is probably the most mature player on the team, and I would never doubt what he does off-the-field. I think that the Wilpon's are just making an excuse for giving him such a bad offer. Speaking of the Wilpon's, what gives them the right to go out and accuse other people of off-the-field actions? They went out and lost most of their money because of being involved in the Ponzi-scheme, so they should just shut it. 

Honestly, I don't care what the Mets' final decision is with Dickey, as long as they don't let him walk. I just want some answers, and it seems like everyday I am hearing conflicting reports about the sides being close to an extension, then others saying that the Mets are close to dealing him to another team. It isn't fair to Dickey, who has to be involved in all of this chaos, even though he is being more than fair in his extension talks. It isn't fair to us Mets fans, because it makes us even more unsure about the future of this organization, and whether Alderson is a trustworthy General Manager or just another Wilpon-suck-up. I'm tired of waiting for answers, and I think I speak for all Mets fans when I say that the Wilpon's and Alderson have done a pretty bad job in handling this whole situation. 

Should the Mets bring back Hairston?

Scott Hairston had the best season of his career in 2012, and will certainly get some respectable contract offers this winter from various teams. The Mets' outfield situation is currently a mess, meaning that if Hairston returns, then he will likely get the starting job in either right or center field. While that isn't the worst thing in the world, it is assumed that he is going to command a multi-year deal with some job security, and I am not entirely sure if the Mets are going to give it to him.

In my opinion, Hairston will get a two year deal in the range of $10-12 million. If that is correct, then I would just let him walk if I were the Mets' front office. Hairston has some flaws in his game, such as his defense and strikeout rate, so overpaying him doesn't make sense at all. Also, keep in mind that the bigger market teams -- such as the Yankees and Phillies -- are going to be involved in the sweepstakes, and they'll easily jack up the asking price out of the Mets' price range.

Alderson has clearly shown us that he is reluctant to make any multi-year moves, or moves for that matter. With that in mind I don't think the Mets are going to bring him back, and I believe that he'll take the money and run. He has been a part-time player throughout most, if not all, of his career, so it makes sense to finally cash in after a huge season. 

Greinke signs with LA, Shields traded to KC, Is Dickey the next one to go?

This entire off-season we have pretty much heard that once the big names out there start getting off the market, either by signing or via trade, then the attention would focus to R.A. Dickey. It is no secret that the Mets are shopping the reigning Cy Young award winner, but they could be more inclined to trade him now if the package they receive is anything near the vicinity of what the Rays got for Shields. 

First of all, the Royals completely overpaid for Shields. Yes, they also got Wade Davis, who is better off as a relief pitcher, but that didn't mean that they should have given up top hitting prospect Wil Myers, AND three other prospects. Shields is a nice player, but will be hitting free agency soon, and could want to leave Kansas City if they do not compete in 2013. 

With that in mind, like mentioned earlier, the focus will now be shifted to R.A. Dickey, and numerous teams, including Toronto and Texas, will be making offers for him. I personally don't want him to sign an extension, not because I question his ability to perform, rather I am thinking about what is the best for the future of this club. If he could bring back a few nice prospects, then I'd say go all in and trade him away. Teams are going to be completely overpaying for the 38 year old knuckle-baller now that he is one of the better, if not the best, pitchers on the market. 

I have heard some Mike Olt rumors, particularly talking about whether the Rangers would be willing to part with him and, lets say Leonys Martin (Outfielder prospect) to facilitate a deal. I have heard quite a bit of mixed feelings from Met fans on their interest in Olt, who would have to switch to the outfield if he came to New York. He is an asset offensively, but his defense would often be brought up in question. Martin is a young center-fielder with upside, and put up good minor league numbers as well. I would imagine that he would slide in as the club's starting center-fielder if acquired, so finding playing time wouldn't be an issue of his.

I have also heard about a lot of communication between the Mets and Blue Jays. Toronto has the neccessary pieces to make a possible trade, but it is unknown who the Mets would want. Obviously they would ask for a catcher, and J.P. Arencibia and, presumably, Travis D'Arnaud are available. Arencibia would be a good platoon partner with Thole, but D'Arnaud has more upside, meaning that the Blue Jays would be more reluctant to trade him. Luckily Toronto has plenty of outfielders, and we have heard all about how Anthony Gose could be of interest. Gose has plenty of upside, but struggled in his brief stint with Toronto last season, so his value could be a little lower right now. Also, I wouldn't mind having an Emilio Bonifacio-type player as a throw-in. The Blue Jays could also be more inclined to throw-in a player like Rajai Davis, who really has no value with the team considering that he won't get too much playing time. 

I can honestly see Dickey being dealt within the next week or two. Teams are most likely talking to Alderson as we speak, and it appears that the extension talks are going nowhere. Like I said before, I want Dickey to be traded --Assuming that the prospects are top-notch. It doesn't make sense to keep him if you are looking long-term, so if the right package comes along you need to take advantage of it. 

Wrapping up the final day of the Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings are now technically over, and many have been calling it a bust. We really didn't see any blockbuster trades or signings, and the Mets remained reluctant to do anything. So, on Thursday, the Phillies surprised many baseball fans everywhere by acquiring Ben Revere from the Twins in exchange for Vance Worley and a prospect. Obviously that means that the Phils are out on the Michael Bourn sweepstakes, and this is a great trade for them. Also, the Red Sox signed Koji Uehara, the Braves re-signed Reed Johnson, and the Twins extended pitcher Jared Burton. 

As for the Mets, they selected pitcher Kyle Lobstein in the Rule 5 draft, but immediately traded him to the Tigers in exchange for cash considerations. It seems like the Tigers were eyeing him, and the Mets made them pay for it. In other news, the Mets have apparently made "little progress" in signing or trading for a catcher this week, which is not a good sign at all. We need someone to platoon with Josh Thole, and it is looking like that someone will be a Miguel Olivo-type player. Olivo has some pop to his bat, but I'd rather have someone a bit younger. 

Apparently the Dodgers are negotiating a contract with prized free agent Zack Greinke, so that would be great if he went to Los Angeles. Why you may ask? Because that means the Rangers, who are Greinke's other top suitor, will overpay to haul in a top of the rotation pitcher. They would probably overpay to acquire Dickey, and it seems like they have a legit amount of interest in him.

As for the Winter Meetings, they were pretty much a bust for the Mets. Alderson claims that he is happy with the progress he made, but where exactly is the progress? All we saw were a few conflicting reports about Dickey and a hint that the club may acquire an outfielder sometime during the week (which didn't happen.) I doubt that Alderson is brewing any big moves here, so he better start making some roster changes or the team will look even worse in 2013. 

Wrapping up the third day of the Winter Meetings

The third day of the Winter Meetings featured a whole lot of free agent signings, none of which involve the Mets. It really seems like the Mets have no interest in making any trades, or moves for that matter, and that is quite annoying. It is even more annoying knowing that the other teams out there, specifically one with in the division, are bulking up their roster without thinking twice. On Wednesday we saw that two trades became official. Wilton Lopez will go to Colorado and Yunel Escobar will go to Tampa Bay in those separate deals. The Giants also signed Marco Scutaro to a three year pact, and the White Sox surprised quite a bit of people by giving Jeff Keppinger a three year deal. We also saw the Orioles re-sign Nate McLouth, who the Mets should have inquired on, and the Mariners signing Jason Bay, who I'd rather not talk about. Also, the Diamondbacks signed Eric Chavez, the Cardinals signed Randy Choate, the Angels signed Sean Burnett and Joe Blanton, and the Cubs signed Nate Schierholtz. 

As for the Mets, like I said earlier, they have barely done anything. I can't believe that they are letting some of these guys go -- I'm talking about a player like Nate Schierholtz, who would have been a perfect fit in New York. Apparently they are working on trades that do not include Dickey, but I just don't see it. Handling the Dickey situation should be Alderson's main priority right now, so let's just get it over with. 

Apparently Mike Pelfrey is gauging quite a bit of interest, so perhaps he will not return to the Mets in 2013. We know that his agent Scott Boras is going to chase the highest offer, and I don't see the Mets out-biding other teams for him, especially if they end up keeping Dickey and Niese. 

Tomorrow is the Rule 5 draft and the Mets apparently are not looking at anyone in particular in the draft (Of-course). I hope the Mets start making moves -- I don't even care how severe the move is, I just want to see some new faces. 

Wrapping up the second day of the Winter Meetings

Day 2 of the Winter Meetings featured a few surprising free agent signings and a couple of trades. At this point, it seems likely that the majority of these trade rumors will continue into tomorrow, so the third day should be a big one. Today kicked off with the Nationals signing Dan Haren, who was not on the Mets' radar. The Diamondbacks have signed Eric Hinske, and the Red Sox have signed Shane Victorino. The Reds are apparently close to a two year deal with Ryan Ludwick. Also, the Rockies are close to acquiring Wilton Lopez from Houston and Tampa Bay is on the verge of acquiring Yunel Escobar from the Marlins. Those trades may become complete overnight.

As for the Mets, we haven't really gotten anything to talk about. The R.A. Dickey rumors really seem to be leaning toward a trade rather than an extension, especially because he apparently wants a 3 yr, $45 million deal. Even his agent wouldn't be surprised if Dickey gets traded, so expect to see more trade rumors revolving around him. Perhaps the Mets will wait until the higher-tiered pitchers, such as Zack Greinke and Anibal Sanchez, are off the free agent market, to negotiate with other teams. That way a team may feel compelled to give up their top prospects to acquire some last minute pitching.

Also, there were several reports indicating that the Mets have checked in on the availability of Mark Reynolds. I personally would hate to see Reynolds come to New York because a) the guy strikes out 200+ times a year, b) he wouldn't have a position (he would be a horrible outfielder) and c) he is probably going to be looking for a multiyear deal.

The Mets talked to Scott Hairston's agent today, and it is "probable" that the two sides eventually come to an agreement, so that is definitely a positive note.

Manny Parra is drawing interest from the Mets, who would use him as a left handed specialist if they were to acquire him. Personally I'd stay away from Parra, because his track record does not look good at all, and he hasn't been able to stay healthy for the last couple of seasons.

The Mets showed interest in signing free agent pitcher John Lannan. Lannan was non-tendered by the Nationals last week, and will probably not be re-signed by them now they have have Dan Haren in the rotation. I would love to see the Mets go after Lannan, because he is an ideal pitcher to have if the Mets end up trading Dickey or Niese.

The Mets are apparently interested in trading for Indians RHP Vinnie Pestano. I think that acquiring Pestano would be a great move, because I feel like the two clubs match up extremely well. I probably wouldn't give them Ike Davis, but I'd let Duda go in a possible Pestano swap, and throw in a Valdespin or Brad Holt as well. Pestano has a power arm, and would be an excellent addition to the bullpen.

Bobby Parnell is apparently untouchable this winter, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. It is weird to think about why the organization thinks so highly of Parnell, because he has shown that he melts down when it comes to the 9th inning situations, and is probably better suited to be a setup man at best. I've always liked Parnell but if the Mets needed to package him, I'd be all for it.

Oh yeah, and tomorrow at 11 am (Eastern time), the Mets will have a press conference that will officially announce the contract extension for David Wright. That is something I'd definitely like to see, because I'd like to hear what David has to say about the future of this club. 

As always I'll be doing another Winter Meetings recap tomorrow night. Be sure to check that out.

Terry Collins talks to reporters about Mejia, Turner, others

Today at the Winter Meetings, Terry Collins sat down with reporters and answered a few questions about the team for next season, and basically said the following.

• Brandon Hicks will serve as the the team's backup infielder.
• Tim Byrdak will begin a throwing program in May, and could join the team in the second half.
• The team expects Johan Santana make between 28 and 30 starts on the season.
• Darin Gorski could get a look as a lefty specialist in the big league bullpen.
• He will give Justin Turner a look in the outfield during Spring Training. 
• Zack Wheeler could get a shot at the big league rotation if the club trades a pitcher this winter.

Well, I don't expect Collins to stick to his word about some of these points, but they are interesting nonetheless. I'd be surprised if Hicks made the club, but he would obviously be a bench player at best if he happens to make his way on the 25 man roster. I wouldn't be surprised to see Byrdak contributing to the club sometime in August or so, because he seems like he is way ahead of schedule on his rehab program. Last year he had a knee surgery to deal with, and only took a few weeks to recover, and at age 39, that is impressive. The Mets would be lucky if they got Santana to start 28-30 games in 2013, and I still feel like if he plays well, then he'll be dealt at the trading deadline. The Darin Gorski case is very interesting, because here we have a hard-throwing lefty who has had a good amount of success in the minors. I don't quite understand why they would put him in a bullpen role when they have Josh Edgin, who I believe is a left handed specialist in the making. Gorski has always seemed like a second-tiered prospect to me, and I'd prefer if he got a chance to make the rotation. As for Turner, it is obvious that Collins and Co. likes his presence  and understands that his versatility is very important to the club. He has a knack for hitting with runners in scoring position, but I don't know how he'll fare out in the outfield. And finally, I'd be very excited to see Wheeler make the Opening Day roster, but I just hope they don't rush him. He better be lights out in Spring Training or else he is staying in the minors to continue his development. 

Wrapping up the first day of the Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings just kicked off today, and we have seen some free agent signings already. Most of these players were out of Alderson's price range, so it not a surprise to see them go elsewhere. Mike Napoli inked a three year deal with the Red Sox, the Giants re-signed Angel Pagan, and the Rangers signed Joakim Soria. Those are pretty much the three top signings of the day, and I would hope that we see more trades tomorrow. 

As for the Mets, they have been reportedly been taking offers for R.A. Dickey all day long, and a trade this week seems likely from what I can gather. This is a tough situation to decipher, because we do not know the full details of the negotiation process between Dickey and the Mets, but I know one thing : If the Mets do not sign Dickey to an extension, he will be dealt sometime this winter. The Red Sox apparently have quite a bit of interest in the 38 year old knuckle-baller, and the Mets reportedly asked for an outfield prospect named Jackie Bradley Jr., a shortstop prospect named Xavier Bogaerts, and presumably a catcher like Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

We have also heard that the Mets are going to meet with Cesar Izturis' agents sometime this week, and may consider signing him as infield depth. In my eyes, Izturis is a guy who cannot hit at all, and his defense is all he has left. If they inked him to a minor league deal I wouldn't throw a fit, but I would just like to see the team going after higher caliber free agents.

Lastly, the Mets are showing interest in free agent outfielder Ryan Ludwick, who I want to stay away from Queens. I recently wrote an article about how I don't want Ludwick (Or Pagan) in Queens, and I'll stick to my word. Ludwick is going to require more of a commitment -- something that is unnecessary at this point in time. 

As for tomorrow, I really hope the Mets start swinging some trades, because this roster needs a shakeup, and it starts with trading R.A. Dickey. It wouldn't surprise me if he was dealt sometime this week, but the Mets better get some solid pieces in return or I will be heartbroken. I will be doing another one of these recap articles tomorrow night as well, so check that out as well.

Should the Mets bring back Mike Pelfrey?

On Friday the Mets non-tendered former first round pick Mike Pelfrey, mostly due to the fact that he has been a massive bust since joining the club in 2005, and was out for the majority of the 2012 season. He also has Scott Boras as his agent, meaning that if he went to arbitration it would have probably costed a few million bucks. Now that Pelfrey is a free agent for the first time in his career, at least seven teams are showing interest in him, and the Mets may be forced to let him walk.

It is no secret that the Mets need pitching depth, especially if they trade Dickey or Niese. Therefore, I would have no problem bringing back Pelfrey on a minor league deal. The problem is, as mentioned before, several teams will be bidding on Pelfrey's services, and the Mets may not want to risk anything by giving him a major league contract.

I have a bad feeling that Boras is going to find a major league contract for Big Pelf sometime this off-season -- possibly next week at the Winter Meetings. Spending guarranteed money on a pitcher returning from Tommy John surgery is a risk, but there are always teams out there that do it -- look at Ryan Madson and the Angels for example. 

So, if I were Sandy Alderson, I would first determine what I am going to do with Dickey and Niese. Obviously they play a huge factor in the 2013 season, and trading them will force him to make several smaller moves, like a Pelfrey signing, to fill out the rotation for the time being. If Alderson trades Dickey or Niese, I would try to re-sign Pelfrey, but I'd still be hesistant about giving him a major league deal. If Alderson signs Dickey to an extension and keeps Niese, then I would say the heck with Pelfrey -- let him get overpaid by some other team.