Who's your guy?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Just going by recent rumors and discussions, here are some players the Mets may import this offseason. Of those listed below, which is the acquisition you'd most like to see?

[Benjamin Grimm]

And I apologize for not including Fay Wray in this poll.

[TransMonk]

Lackey...pitching, pitching, pitching.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I also voted for Lackey.

[MFS62]

And I apologize for not including Fay Wray in this poll.[/quote:1fk00k1p]
That comment is getting serious consideration for an exclamation point.

Er, Lackey.

Later

[seawolf17]

I want Lackey. Holliday is a backup plan.

[soupcan]

Lackey.

I guess I gotta go with pitching but the lack of 'O' last season really bugged me. I'd love to see Holliday or Bay here.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't really have a guy.

I'd sorta like if they looked into what it would take to get Brandon Phillips from the Reds, and maybe Aaron Harang, since the scuttlebutt is the Reds looking to slash payroll.

Yesterday Fatcessa suggested... uh demanded, that the Mets acquire Halladay by allowing the jays their pick of the best prospects and saying it would solve all of the Mets problems. Right, Fatso. Now John Harper in the Snooze says the "only solution" for the Mets is to SPEND SPEND SPEND, on Holliday, I guess, I didn't really read the whole article.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The cycle is vicious, isn't it?

"The Mets are cheap!"

"The Mets are stupid and they think spending is the answer!"

"The Mets are cheap!"

"The Mets are stupid and they think spending is the answer!"

Wash, rinse, repeat.

I don't have a guy either. I like girls.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Putting on my "I'm the GM" hat, I'm pretty loath to spend FA money-- especially lock-'im-up, 5-years-plus brand money-- on pitchers at or above the age of 30. And if someone's got a gun to my head telling me I have to lock up somebody long-term, I'm spending it on the surest thing possible and/or the one whose skills will erode the least sharply/most tolerably.

Continued production from Lackey-- a power pitcher who often suffers from Kazmiritis (too many damn pitches)-- doesn't meet that threshold for me. He's peaked, and I'd rather not pay Burnett money-- much less Sabathia money-- for what could be a steep, steep decline.

Give me the bat... and given the choice between "meh" fielder with great bat and "OH MY GOD MY EYES" fielder and great bat, I'll take the first guy.

If you'll give me combo-plate options, I could be swayed for Lackey if you throw in a Cameron-type-- or similarly undervalued player who WANTS to play LF-- signing as well (unfortunately, I think the side dish is more likely to be Bengie F-ing Molina).

JCL's Phillips/Harang idea intrigues.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Of course!

The best guy on the market is too often a reflection of the market, rather than the guy.

[Guest 86-Dreamer]

In Reyes, Wright, Beltran, Santana and Frankie I think the Mets have enough stars. IMHO, what they need are healthy, competenct offensive players at the other positions, stronger starting pitching and defense, and a strong committment to developing a few more stars. I would hold onto my prospects and draft picks, and fill out the lineup with some Type B free agents. My lineup:

1B LaRoche
2B Hudson*
SS Reyes
3b Wright
LF Cameron
CF Beltran
RF Francoer
C Santos / Zaun
SP Santana / Garland / Marquis / Pelfrey / Maine
* - if cost is too high, either in contract or draft pick, I would still look to replace Castillo. Perhaps Felipe Lopez.


Fire Away!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Perfectly valid and my approach every offseason. Incremental, but sustainable, renewable, and ethical.

What you have to be prepared for is the backlash when it comes to pass that Beltran, Delgado (if he comes back), Santana, and Reyes all come with a possibility that the injury may be a longer-term setback than planned --- or a permanent setback.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I don't know who my guy is, but I'd look to add 2 very good starting pitchers via trade or FA. No team's gonna get to the playoffs without depth, but with the modern playoff sked, it's seems to really really benefit a team to have a top-heavy starting rotation. Girardi would've gotten skewered for going with a 3-man rotation if it backfired, but that took some balls to do it and it paid off.

I'd start by looking into Lackey and call Detroit about Edwin Jackson.

I'd love to see them think about Rich Harden as an extra guy who can give 20-something starts, provide depth and occasional awesomeness, but it not relied for a full season.

Oh, and hitters, too.

[smg58]

Halladay. Lackey will probably require a five-year commitment, and I don't trust his health enough to do that.

[ashie62]

A vote for Jason Bay in Flushing Bay

[Fman99]

I want Doc Halladay up in that rotation with Johan and Manny, Moe and Jack or whomever is pitching in slots 3-5.

[ashie62]

Manny Delcarmen, Moe Drabowsky, & Jack McDowell

[metirish]

Some guy over at SI Hot Stoving that the Mets need to pull a blockbuster and that would be in the form of Lance Berkman....I'm not seeing it

[ashie62]

It appear Lackey and Delgado are moving up the charts..

[ashie62]

Per the NY Post Edgardo Alfonzo is hoping for a spring training invite from the Mets, as a player

[A Boy Named Seo]

Per the NY Post Edgardo Alfonzo is hoping for a spring training invite from the Mets, as a player[/quote:3dki5i2c]

This article was totally worth the read. I love Alfonzo's loyalty to the Mets, but I can't say I totally understand it.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/alfonzo_yearns_for_one_more_amazin_zr0WFGukgHOiw1F6rcjOwN#ixzz0Wrlxzv46

[Guest Edgy DC]

I understand it. I want to retire a Met also.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

As per beat writer/intrepid chatmaster Ken Davidoff, the Mets' offseason inclinations, at this point. Most disturbing, if you're like me...

Their most clear, realistic target appears to be catcher Bengie Molina, who intrigues the Mets considerably even though, as a Type A free agent, he'd cost the Mets their second-round draft pick.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That doesn't disturb me. Molina is the low-hanging fruit. (Not that there's anything wrong with it.)

It doesn't mean they won't get bigger or better players as well, just that Molina is the one they have the clearest shot at.

[metirish]

I'd not want Molina to get a three year deal , at 35 and listed at a generous 225lbs he's a big risk....all players are of course but.....we know he can't run and looking at his stats for last season he doesn't walk much either.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Fat, runs like he has a load in his pants, which he probably does, hacky outmaker, related to Yadier, will cost $$ and a draft pick? No thonks.

[metirish]

Randy Wolf is being touted as tosser for the rotation....underwhelmed I'd be.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

That doesn't disturb me. Molina is the low-hanging fruit. (Not that there's anything wrong with it.)

It doesn't mean they won't get bigger or better players as well, just that Molina is the one they have the clearest shot at.[/quote:qfcvgo23]

The reason we'd have such a clear shot at him is because he's a veteran, "name" catcher who'll demand compensation, and he's a type-A free agent who'll provide type-B or -C value. We don't want to give up a draft pick-- much less 3 years of multimillions, and blocking Thole-- for this guy, whose defense is iffy at this point, and whose plate selectivity (13 walks in 520 PA last year) makes Frenchy look like a Charlie Lau disciple.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd be okay with Molina getting a one-year deal. (That wouldn't really block Thole a whole lot.) And I don't obsess over the draft picks. I would object to a deal of more than one year, because, barring a trade, I hope and expect to see Thole as the starting catcher in 2011.