My priority is Reyes or another big offensive player, closer and pen, a starter–but it’s so early sooo many ways to go and improve this offseason should be fun

As mentioned in another posting today on this site, The Mets will be looking to sign Jose Reyes quickly and not have him test the free agent offers first. They don’t want a bidding war that gets out of hand. That would be foolish for a team that has question marks with injured players (Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy, Johann Santana) and some other holes.

No we don’t have ideal guys at every position but other than CF, C and LF you really can’t complain about what is there!

with Reyes in the fold you have your entire IF sorted out with players to spare! (Trade bait!)
And while Bay has been disappointing I don’t see him being replaced anytime soon lets just hope he thinks it’s September in April and hits like it!

Pagan has his moments where you love him and then want to shoot him. But he isn’t the worst CF we ever had!

So really it comes down to getting as much pitching as we can to hold us until the MiL arms are ripe for picking.
And that should be our priority the second they know what Reyes is going to be playing!

As for Capps (or Paps or comparable), not ready to put big money into that position when I feel Mejia will be that guy down the road. So Nathan on a 1 or 2 year deal is well worth the money vs. Capps or another at 3 or 4 years.

Ideally CJ (prob ain’t happening) or E jax. I can’t see this happening if they tender Pelf a contract.
Closer looks to be Nathan, in my mind. I can’t see them shooting for a Type A and Nathan as a 4 mil+ incentives seems right up the Mets alley.

2B is internal
C is a mess FA wise and unless there is a trade, just re-sign Paulino
3ish BP arms – Figuring Parnell, Herrera, Beato, Stinson or another inhouse option + Nathan, Loogy and another.
CF they’ll probably just roll with Pagan.

All in all, it’s not looking pretty for next year, though we could see Havens & Harvey up with the team come July, which would be solid.

Trades make all the above moot, and as ANY has mentioned before, that very well be the way Alderson goes to make this team better. The FA’s aren’t all that impressive and there are many players that are banging on the door of the 40 man roster that could be used as trade chips.

As for Kemp… Yeah, he’s solid, but looking at this from the Dodgers perspective, I think they’d spit out their mocha latte frappachino and convulse in laughter at that. Murphy, Mejia (coming off TJ and yet to pitch), Bay and 2 other prospects for Kemp, who’s arguably an MVP candidate? Would be nice, I’d take it in a second as a Met fan but I’d think my money would be better spent playing the lottery than betting on that happening.

As for your lineup, I’d go Reyes, Wright, Davis, Kemp, Duda, Pagan, Havens/turner/tejada, thole… But that being said, I’m not see much of the above happening.

next to that, a C upgrade would be nice (but not easy to find)

And prioritize figuring out a way to move Bay out.

Ankiel has looked better against us than anyone else and even his best is worse than Pagan’s worst.

2 Closer and bullpen revamp. Matt Capps comes to mind at a resonable price. Maybe Bell if it’s not too many years since our first round pick is protected.

3 CJ Wilson IF you can get him for a resonable deal. If not hope that santana/RA/niese/gee/Cappy and whoever of the youngsters who get promoted to hold down the fort. We have a lot of pitching coming so only sign him if it makes sense.

Now, this is the kicker. If the dodgers are still in a mess I say try and do the following trade if it’s workable.

Dodgers give Mets Matt Kemp (contingent on him signing an extension)

Mets give Murph who could play 1st there. Mejia who is a top shelf prospect who is a little further away from the majors because of TJ. 2-3 other minor leaguers (Harvy, Wheeler, Familia Havens are only untouchables.) and Jason Bay with a years worth of his salary. This way you can realign the outfield with Pagan in right, Kemp in center and Duda in left.

Mets starting position players for 2012

1 Reyes – SS – S
2 Pagan – RF – S
3 Kemp – CF – R
4 Davis – 1B – L
5 Wright – 3B – R
6 Duda – LF – L
7 Havens – 2B – L
8 Thole – C – L

Bottom of the lineup is a little lefty heavy but if Palino is playing you can slide him in at 7 move Havens to 8 and that’s what I call a ballanced lineup. Let this team gel for a very competitive 2012 have some of the young aces break in and be all set to go for dominance from 2013.

And if you can’t find any of that find a taker for Jason Bay!
Yes this answer is a joke!
But what is said in jest…..