Rightfield

[Mex17]

People are assuming that this is a non-issue (like the NY Post, who stated today that ". . .the infield and outfield appear set after yesterday's announcement that second baseman Luis Castillo has signed a four-year contract worth $25 million."), but it isn't. If Milledge is traded in a package for a pitcher (which is very possible), and Gomez is not yet ready to take on a full-time role in the majors (also very possible. . .in actuality he lost a lot of AAA development time last year in that he was called up for emergency duty and can probably use close to a full season in New Orleans). Then who is playing rightfield????

I doubt that this is going to happen, but I think that the Mets should try to have that wrapped up prior to the winter meetings. I would try to lock up the Japanese player (Fukudome. . .moderate risk but high reward IMO) and think about Geoff Jenkins as a backup plan. Having a replacement already in place would make trading Milledge easier. If a deal is not struck, then you have depth (not a small consideration considering Alou will miss at least 40 games).

[smg58]

I'm not against depth. The Mets do have Endy, and have used Marlon Anderson in the outfield. Now you could deal Gotay and have Anderson take his infield role, leaving room for another outfielder. I'd be perfectly OK with that. But I think the Mets have reached a point where they can no longer consider Milledge a prospect, and I don't think they can afford to deal him while keeping Gomez if the goal is to win this year.

[Guest Edgy DC]

They may or may not be set, but they appear set. It may change, but there's nothing wrong with that statement.

[Fman99]

I think they are far more likely to deal Martinez or Gomez for pitching than they are Milledge. Teams seem to be less enamored of him and he's the most MLB-ready of the three OFs.

I could also see a scenario where the Mets bring in an older OF to compete and/or timeshare in RF with Milledge.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yabbut... unless they subtract somebody or go with 11 pitchers, there's no room for old outfielders, as their offense is (brace for it) set, with nobody except Milledge, having options, and Ben Johnson under the gun, out of options but clearly behind Milledge on the depth chart.

Castro and somebody else at catcher = 2

Castillo, Delgado, Easley, Gotay, Reyes, and Wright in the infield = 6

Alou, Anderson, Beltran, Chavez, and Milledge in the outfield = 5

That's 13. If you want to add Old Outfield Guy (let's call him "Brady Clark"), you've got to whack somebody, probably Reuben.

[Centerfield]

I don't see how anyone can be happy going into the season with those young guys in RF. With second base set, and no real bats available at catcher, the only way the Mets can improve their lineup is by adding a good hitter in rightfield. And the object is to improve right?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Sometimes, you can improve with restraint. With catcher unsettled, three guys in their lineup are in the growth phase of their careers --- Reyes, Wright, and Milledge. Beltran and maybe Castillo (for maybe a year or so) are in peak period. while Delgado and Alou are in decline periods.

You can't expect all of them to behave accordingly (and Castillo can enter the third group at any time), but if they do in general, that's a net plus.

I don't think that alone should be their approach, but I think it should be a basis.

[nymr83]

Castillo is already in the 3rd group. his speed is on the way out and his obp has been slipping

[Centerfield]

I'm not looking to put a team on the field that could possibly be better. I want them to put a team on the field that will most likely be better.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, I outlined a 3-2-2 scenario. That equals likely. Nymr's probably right that it's more like a 3-2-3 scenario, but we'll see if surgery helps Castillo soon enough.

But that's just looking at the offense, not the whole team, and we still don't know if we have a likelihood of an improvement behind the dish.