The Mets currently have six plus one starters

[Edgy MD]

They mets ended 2007 with seven big league starters, plus Aaron Heilman. Having shed Kazuhisa Ishii in December, they crossed over int 2006 with six remaining, plus Heilman

Feel free to say what you would have the Mets do, but this thread asks what you 'spect they'll do. I'm assuming Pedro Martinez. I wanted to put it to a poll, but there are too many possiblities, including the real, but unlikely possibility that Trachsel or Glavine could be moved.

So, taking for granted that the Mets will not open with any wildcard rookies in their rotation, with Benson-Glavine-Heilman-Martinez-Seo-Trachsel-Zambrano ready to go, tell me...

1) Who winds up in the rotation?

2) Who (among the remainders of the seven) winds up in the bullpen?

3) Who winds up being traded?

4) Who, if anybody will be acquired and added to the pen?

This is a prediciton thread and will be archived as such. Good luck, Jim.

[Benjamin Grimm]

1) Who winds up in the rotation?

Martinez, Glavine, Benson, Trachsel, Zambrano

2) Who (among the remainders of the seven) winds up in the bullpen?

Heilman.

3) Who winds up being traded?

Seo.

4) Who, if anybody will be acquired and added to the pen?

Danys Baez.

[Centerfield]

Six plus two if you include Soler.

[Edgy MD]

They're currently aligned as Martinez-Glavine-Benson-Seo-Trachsel (or Benson-Trachsel-Seo or Trachsel-Benson-Seo or Trachsel-Seo-Benson or Seo-Trachsel-Benson or Seo-Benson-Trachsel), with Zambrano and Heliman in the pen. I guess that's the most likely outcome, but with three months of trade possibilities ahead (to say nothing of toe complications), I don't think it's more likely to fall that way than not.

[Edgy MD]

Soler is not breaking camp in the rotation. There's my prediction.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

1) Who winds up in the rotation?
Pedro Glavine Trachsel Heilman... Zito

2) Who (among the remainders of the seven) winds up in the bullpen?
Zambrano (if not traded)

3) Who winds up being traded?
Seo, for Baez, perhaps Zambrano in my Zito fantasy, or maybe Heilman in the Zito fantasy.

4) Who, if anybody will be acquired and added to the pen?
Baez to the pen.

Yeah, I'm WAY out on a limb here, but I can't help but think there will be a real effort to shore up the rotation with a dramatic addition. Zito has all the qualities the market desires in a player: Sexy name, handsome, a reputation as a character, slam dunk approval by fans and media, and he's going to be out of Oakland's price range by a longshot.

So I guess that Beane collects on him before he leaves town, same as he did with Hudson & Mulder. And the Mets strap them on and make a daring run for him, like they did with Hampton, who isn't all that different than Zito (intriguing young lefty on the edge of free agency & potential difference maker in a postseason scenario).

The Mets have a Billy Beane Dream Prospect in Victor Diaz just sitting there waiting to be the next Giambi, or at least, a good power/OBP guy who's fat, cheap and a lousy position player. Start with him, add Bannister, Humber (?), or Heilman/Zambrano... and ... I dunno ... something else ... and maybe you have the makings of a deal. Everyone assumes the A's will demand Milledge but I don't really know if he's typical Oakland material, and in my scenario the Mets are at least smart enough to hold onto him.

Perhaps this doesn't go down by opening day, maybe June or July instead.

Stick this in your prediction pipe and smoke it, Jim.

[Gwreck]

I predict that we see Victor Zambrano back in the starting rotation. I can't find a handy website that lists "quality starts" but unless my memory is decieving me, Victor did string together a number of reasonable outings.

I think the Mets might be better served by taking their chances with him as #5 starter (Pedro-Glavine-Benson-Trachsel) rather than having him in the bullpen (long man?).

I think we see Seo traded and Heilman still in the bullpen. I don't see Heilman getting to start unless Benson is traded, and I don't think that'll happen.

[Edgy MD]

I follow the Zito scenario to the point where Diaz is sold as having the OBP numbers to open Beane's eyes. They're more or less OK, but not so good that a Beane and Macha would make up a position for him.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I count 14 quality starts for Zambrano in 2005.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Diaz still needs a job somewhere though. He's like the forgotten man as far as discussion goes.

[Valadius]

Zambrano feels like the best candidate for a trade. Pitching-starved teams like Cincinnati, Texas, or Colorado could use him. And if we trade Matsui, we're gonna need a second baseman. We may obtain him in a trade that way.

[Gwreck]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I count 14 quality starts for Zambrano in 2005.

Thanks. That's just over half (14/27) for a #5 starter. I could live with that.

[Zvon]

1) Who winds up in the rotation?

Martinez, Glavine, Benson, Seo, Heilman

2) Who (among the remainders of the seven) winds up in the bullpen?

Zambrano

3) Who winds up being traded?

Trachsel

4) Who, if anybody will be acquired and added to the pen?

All that above is wishful thinking. This question, Id have to do some reseach for an answer.

[Edgy MD]

Actually, my concern here is the rotation, and number four should have read "Who, if anybody will be acquired and added to the rotation?"

[Zvon]

Edgy DC wrote: Actually, my concern here is the rotation, and number four should have read "Who, if anybody will be acquired and added to the rotation?"

mmmmmm.
Im all for JDs fantasy Zito move.
But that would change the entire scheme of things.
Then Heilman goes back to collecting splinters in his buttocks.

[Edgy MD]

The Mets currently have five plus one starters.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I get points for question 3, but not for 4.

[Edgy MD]

Doesn't matter. 'Twas the wrong question.

[Edgy MD]

Nobody saw Bannsiter.