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.