"The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together"

- Carl Sagan

The Mets are facing an interesting dilemma this offseason: Having to fill holes with a limited payroll for a team that has nothing expected of it next year

So in some respects, 2011 is a punted year, in preparation for all of the freed money that will await us for 2012.

However, limited amounts of money does not mean that the team cannot at least make an attempt at competing next year, provided they spend wisely.

This is my plan

 

To start, the payroll, commitments on the book for next season

SP Johan Santana: $22,000,000 (out for a while)

SP  R.A. Dickey: $3,000,000 (projected)

SP Mike Pelfrey: $4,000,000 (projected)

SP Jon Niese $440,000

SP ______________

SP ___________

 

 

RP Francisco Rodriguez $11,500,000

RP Bobby Parnell $440,000

RP Ryota Igarashi $1,750,000

RP Mike O' Connor $500,000

RP _____________

RP _____________

RP __________

 

C Josh Thole $440,000

1B Ike Davis $440,000

2B ___________

3B David Wright $14,000,000

SS Jose Reyes $11,000,000

LF Jason Bay $16,000,000

CF Angel Pagan $4,000,000

RF Carlos Beltran $18,500,000

 

1B/3B/RF Nick Evans $440,000

LF Lucas Duda $440,000

2B/3B/SS Justin Turner $440,000

C ___________

OF ___________

 

The Useless:

SP Oliver Perez $12,000,000

2B Luis Castillo $6,000,000

OF Gary Matthews Jr $1,000,000 (According to Patrick Flood)

 

Total Costs Before FA: $127,580,000

 

So that figures us around $23 million to fill two rotation spots, 2B, the rest of the bullpen, and the bench. Not much

 

So let's start:

 

1. Sign Vicente Padilla to a 1 year, $5 million contract

An odd choice on the surface, but when you look into his peripherals from last year, they were quite good. Yes, he was injured somewhat last year, but considering the other options out there and what kind of situation the team is in, it's a necessary risk.

Last year, he posted 7.96 K/9 and a 2.26 BB/9, and had his highest velocity in years. While all of those figures might worsen sometimes, he still figures to be a pretty solid pitcher in Citifield

 

2. Trade Kirk Neuwinheis, Aderlin Rodriguez, Zach Lutz and Kyle Allen to the Tampa Bay Rays for RHPJames Shields

Boldness must be embraced.

Again, I'm not exactly sure what he'd cost, but this seems somewhat reasonable and I didn't include Fernando Martinez, because frankly, his value is nothing at this point.

This is the perfect buy-low scenario, considering Shields xFIP 3.72 and strong K/9 and BB rates last year

One might ask...why the hell would Friedman sell low on Shields?? One word: MONEY

In 2011, he makes $4 million. In 2012, he makes $7 million. Considering the payroll issues the Rays have, Friedman may not consider it prudent to hold onto someone who is going to get expensive and coming off a bad year.

3. Sign Orlando Hudson to a 1 year, $4 million contract

The time has come for a competent 2nd baseman. He figures to provide league average defense and slightly above average offense, a welcome change from what we've experienced the last few years.

 

4. Sign Hideki Okajima to a 1 year, $2 million contract

Okajima is coming off a terrible year, in which he posted a 1.72 WHIP, causing the Sawx to release him. However, his velocity didn't drop at all, and his pitch use didn't change much, so it could reasoned that this was an aberration. If he returns to form, he's a dominant lefty specialist, and fills Pedro's spot.

 

5. Sign Todd Coffey to a 1 year, $2 million contract

Posted solid K/9 and a solid BB/9, just got unlucky with a very low LOB% (63) . Would be a solid RH arm in the pen.

 

6. Sign DJ Carrasco to a 1 year, $1 million contract

Not the greatest reliever, but has been relatively solid the last two years, and would do better job than Green

 

7. Sign Gerald Laird to 1 year, $1 million contract

Yeah, he's probably no better than Blanco, but I'd prefer someone who isn't near retirement age. He'll be a decent RH backup to Thole

 

8. Sign Tony Gwynn Jr to 1 year, $750,000 contract

DFA by Padres yesterday. Whereas Kevin Youkilis is the Greek God of Walks, Gwynn is the Greek God of Fielding. Posting well above average fielding stats at every OF position the last two years, Gwynn would make an excellent backup OF.

9. Release the Useless

Obvious thing is obvious. They will provide nothing for next year's team, and there's no reason to keep them on board

 

Now let's summarize:

SP Johan Santana: $22,000,000 (out for a while)

SP  R.A. Dickey: $3,000,000 (projected)

SP Mike Pelfrey: $4,000,000 (projected)

SP Jon Niese $440,000

SP James Shields $4,200,000

SP Vicente Padilla $5,000,000

 

 

RP Francisco Rodriguez $11,500,000

RP Bobby Parnell $440,000

RP Ryota Igarashi $1,750,000

RP Mike O' Connor $500,000

RP Hideki Okajima $2,000,0000

RP Todd Coffey $2,000,0000

RP DJ Carrasco $1,000,000

 

C Josh Thole $440,000

1B Ike Davis $440,000

2B Orlando Hudson $4,000,000

3B David Wright $14,000,000

SS Jose Reyes $11,000,000

LF Jason Bay $16,000,000

CF Angel Pagan $4,000,000

RF Carlos Beltran $18,500,000

 

1B/3B/RF Nick Evans $440,000

LF Lucas Duda $440,000

2B/3B/SS Justin Turner $440,000

C Gerald Laird $1,000,000

OF Tony Gwynn Jr. $750,000

 

The Useless:

SP Oliver Perez $12,000,000

2B Luis Castillo $6,000,000

 

Total: $148,530,000, just slightly under our total of $150,000,000

 

I'm not calling this the 1998 Yankees, but there's no reason this team can't compete if certain players return to form.