2008 Prediction: 1st in NL East
In
- Johan Santana (MIN) - acquired for Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra and signed to a 6 year, $137 million contract extension with a club option for 2014- 2/1/08
- Matt Wise (MIL) - signed to a 1 year, $1.25 million contract - 12/18/07
- Ryan Church and Brian Schneider (WAS) - acquired for Lastings Milledge - 11/30/07
- Angel Pagan (CHC) - acquired for Corey Coles and Ryan Meyers - 1/5/08
- Brian Stokes (TAM) - acquired for cash - 11/28/07
- Luis Castillo (NYM) - resigned to a 4 year, $25 million extension - 11/19/07
- Moises Alou (NYM) - $7.5 million club option was exercised - 10/31/07
- Marlon Anderson (NYM) - resigned to a 2 year, $2.2 million contract - 11/7/07
- Damian Easley (NYM) - resigned to a 1 year, $950,000 contract - 10/31/07
- Ramon Castro (NYM) - resigned to a 2 year, $4.6 million contract - 11/16/07
- Jose Valentin (NYM) - resigned to a minor league contract - 1/18/08
- Ruddy Lugo (OAK) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/30/08
- Raul Casanova (TAM) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/13/07
- Andy Cavazos (STL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08
- Tony Armas Jr. (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08
Out
- Paul LoDuca (WAS) - signed to a 1 year, $5 million contract - 12/11/07
- Ben Johnson (LAA) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/8/08
- Tom Glavine (ATL) - signed to a 1 year, $8 million contract - 11/19/07
- Brian Lawrence (KC) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/21/08
- Mike DiFelice (TAM) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08
- Guillermo Mota (MIL) - traded for Johnny Estrada - 11/20/07
- Johnny Estrada (WAS) - signed to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract - 2/1/08
- David Newhan (HOU) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/29/08
- Dave Williams (Japan) - signed with Yokohama BayStars - 12/7/07
Remaining Free Agents
- Shawn Green
- Sandy Alomar Jr.
- Aaron Sele
- Ricky Ledee
- Jeff Conine
C - Brian Schneider
1B - Carlos Delgado
2B - Luis Castillo
3B - David Wright
SS - Jose Reyes
LF - Moises Alou
CF - Carlos Beltran
RF - Ryan Church
Projected Opening Day Rotation
Johan Santana
Pedro Martinez
John Maine
Oliver Perez
Mike Pelfrey/Orlando Hernandez
Projected Opening Day Closer
Billy Wagner
Improvements: I'm not sure if Brian Schneider, the Mets' new catcher, is an improvement over Paul LoDuca, but he's not a downgrade by any means. He is arguably the best defensive catcher in the game, and with youngsters Oliver Perez, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey likely to start the season in the rotation, having a catcher who can call a great game and help develop these young pitchers will be a huge, and underrated plus. Adding Matt Wise to the end of the rotation was a wise move (pun intended). In 2007, with the Brewers, Wise pitched about 54 innings, and had an ERA of 4.19 - and a 43/17 k/bb ratio. And that Santana guy I understand will be an improvement of sorts...I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Lack of improvement: Picking up Santana 100% addresses the Mets' need for a frontline, top of the rotation starter. He is arguably the best pitcher on the planet right now, and the Mets will be signing his checks for the next 6 years. With them finally getting that centerpiece arm, they have no holes on that team - though I suppose one more stable arm in the bullpen couldn't hurt.
Keys to success: Even with Santana, for the Mets to be successful Martinez and Hernandez are going to have to remain healthy and consistent the entire season. And the other members of the rotation - Maine, Perez and Pelfrey - will have to mature and show they can handle the big pressure of pitching in New York. Carlos Delgado is being looked at as the key to the Mets' offense and will have to revert to his glory days of .300/35/120 offensive stat lines. The Mets have a deep offense, but if Delgado is healthy and on his game, it can be one of the most dangerous in the league as well.
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