As much as I've supported Kaz Matsui in the past and as much as I think Miguel Cairo is little more than a replacement-level player, I agree with other pundits that it may be time to ride the hot bat and let Cairo play every day until he cools off. I still think that Matsui is far from a terrible player. He may be just another victim of the Shea Stadium hate machine. His consistently-bad play this season coupled with relentless booing from the Shea faithful may be in his head at this point.
Miguel Cairo sports a career batting line of .274/.322/.371, which explains why he's been a bench player for the majority of his big league career. He doesn't walk a lot, doesn't strike out a lot, and doesn't hit for much power. He is the epitomy of unspectacular, but if he can echo his 2004 line of .292/.345/.417 I will be satisfied.
In the high minors the Mets have Jeff Keppinger and, despite John Sickels' belief that he could be a solid major leaguer, I don't really see it happening. He is having a solid season in Norfolk, hitting .330/.370/.447. If Cairo struggles when he is officially named the started I wouldn't have a problem bringing up Keppinger to see what he has to offer.
Aarom Baldiris plays second for AA Binghamton. Baldiris has historically hit for average and will draw a bunch of walks but he hits for zero power.
The most intriguing prospect, to me at least, is Grant Psomas, the third-baseman for Low-A Hagerstown. He was drafted out of West Virginia in 2004 and is tearing up the league to the tune of a .333/.425/.611 and a 30:28 K:BB ratio. At 22 he is old for the Sally League and is at least a couple of years away, but he could easily be shifted to second-base if his bat continues to flourish.
Outside of the Mets organization, the usual suspect is Alfonso Soriano. He still has another year of arbitration with the Rangers, but he could stand to make $10 million or more in 2006 and Texas is always looking for pitching help. The Mets have a lot of pitching depth in the minors, so don't be suprised to see Soriano's name come up in trade talks after the season is over. I'd love to have his bat in the lineup, and if it doesn't cost the Mets Yusmeiro Petit or Philip Humber, I'd be all in favor of the Mets trading some of their pitching for Sori.