What's left on Omar's Shopping List? *Evaluating the current team and needs.*

I'm going to breakdown the remaining moves the Mets need to make before the 2010 season begins, in order of priority.

1. SP.  Health letting, the Mets rotation will be better in 2010, due to one move supposedly completed already and that's signing Bengie Molina.  He is clearly a pitcher's catcher and brings out the best in his pitchers.  He's caught 3 Cy young winners this decade (Colon, Halladay, TIm Lincecum).  Last year, he coaxed tremendous performances out of Jonathan Sanchez and helped Matt Cain finally achieve his potential over the last two years.   Anyways, the Mets have Johan, Pelfrey, Ollie and Maine on roster for the 10 season, leaving one spot open.  

In house options include Neise, Nelson Fig, perhaps escobar and perhaps Bobby Parnell.  There are other minor leaguers, but said pitchers would need a very impressive spring training to secure a starting spot.

MLB FA options are suspect and the market is weak.  Everyone needs a starter, but there's a reason Lackey and Wolf signed fast.  The top shelf starters (Bedard and Sheets) have major injury issues coming into the 2010 season and price tags that will not be all that cheap.  Beyond that, there's Vincent Padilla, Joel Piniero, Garland, Pedro, Washburn, Myers, Rich Hill and Looper.   Of these pitchers, only Bedard and Sheets have the upside of being a No.1 - 2 type pitcher and should be the only pitchers the Mets consider for an incentive based, prove yourself type of deal.  

The final free agent is Aroldis Chapman and should be the Mets #1 priority.  I've already stated why in another post, but I'll reiterate quickly here... he's young, he's left handed and he throws 102 mph with plus secondary pitches.  He may need at least a year of seasoning in the minors, but he is a once in a generation type talent that the Mets should not let slip through their hands.  They have the $, the ballpark and the need to sign the second best SP prospect in the world behind Stephen Strasbourg.

Trade options are limited and vague.  Gil Meche, Harang, Arroyo, Lowe, Jonathan Sanchez, etc. all seem to be available, though the cost, etc., especially from the Mets farm, is not clear at all.  Roy Oswalt may be available as well, but would command a high prospect premium.

In Summary, here's how the Mets should address #1

A. Sign Chapman (no hold bar), with the assumption being at least one year of grooming in the minors.

B. Evaluate Sheets and Bedard and make a 1 year, incentive based deal depending on the 

C. Trade for Gil Meche.  A solid, if uninspiring #3 type starter, he regressed last year and has the type of contract that should make him a bargain for the Mets to acquire.  Overall, these moves give the Mets 6 starters with at  least 2 yrs + MLB experience for 5 spots.  Let competition and health sort out the rest.

2. First Base.   Assessing this need requires looking at the Mets current projected lineup:

Reyes (Switch), Castillo (Switch), Wright (R), Beltran (Switch), Bay (R), Franceour (R), Murphy (L)/Evans (R), Molina, (R), P.  The bench includes Pagan (S), Cora (L) and not much else of note (Coste, Blanco, Santos and Thole).  I would like to note here that Coste will hopefully provide valuable insider info on the Phillies pitching staff, whom he caught for many years.  Additionally, Molina caught Halladay in TOR.  I expect Fernando Martinez to begin the season in the minors.

Anyways, the Mets most clear need is for a second left-handed power threat, as Beltran is the only true left-handed power threat. Murphy may one day develop into one, but is currently not one. 

In house options include Nick Evans and Muprhy.

FA options: Delgado (L), Russell Brayan(R), Adam LaRoche(L), Ryan Garko(R) and Huff (L).  Additionally, Nady (R) could be converted to a fulltime first basemen.  

Trade options are limited.  Todd Helton (L), Adrian Gonzalez (L) (high prospect premium) are the most notable.  Lance Berkman may also available, but could command a significant prospect premium. 

In summary, the Mets should address first base by

A. Signing LaRoche or make a trade for Helton or Gonzalez.  He's healthy, in his prime years, a capable defender and is the lefty power threat the Mets need at first base.  Additionally, he is a traditionally very strong second half hitter, which would address one of the Mets major flaws over the last 3 years (fading in the second half).

and/or  

B. Trading for Berkman and Oswalt (which addresses #1), which I've come to realize is deserving of it's own post, as I believe this is much more like to be a mid-season possibility.  I'll cover this shortly here.... Houston won't trade Oswalt or Berkman in the offseason as it would greatly effect the sale of ticket packages.  However, with Berkman due to be a free agent at the end of this season and Oswalt at the end of 2011, trading both of them at midseason if the Stros are out  of contention would preserve maximum value and help the Stros avoid the embarrassment TOR created for themselves by not moving Halladay this past midseason.  As far as the Mets pulling off a deal of this caliber, that's a story for a whole fanpost.