That should free up enough room for the rule 5 guys they really need to put on.

I expect they will free up some more room via trades to be able to add some new talent from the outside.

Maybe the loss of 2 excellent defensive catchers in Blanco & Barajas had something to do with the regress in pitching this year because last year our pitching was good enough to contend with, the problem was injuries to our starting offensive players.

I think they keep Nickeas whom they like defensively, and Buchholz whom they clearly like, and if he has his depression under control and gets the right support during the season, will be boost to the pen. They don’t need to create more stress for him by signing him to minor league deal when they know he can pitch and will make the pen better. They could have already dropped him but haven’t and that’s a sign they want him.

As for Reyes, he’ll be off the roster next week.

The big decision will be on F-Mart.

Don’t be surprised if the likes of Parnell, Beato and Stoner start the season in AAA. Towards end of season, Mets leadership talked of wanting real depth in the minors and that certain pitchers have options.

I think the re-sign Bautista to minor league deal and that Schwinden and Gee might be minor league depth, or that one or the other will be long man.

Free agents: Miguel Batista, Chris Capuano, Jason Isringhausen, Scott Hairston, Willie Harris
Release Candidates: DJ Carrasco
Status Up in the Air (Due to non-tendering): Mike Pelfrey, Angel Pagan, Ronny Paulino, Taylor Buchholz
Other DFA-able Spare Parts (Brought in as non-roster invites to spring training): Jason Pridie, Mike Baxter, Mike Nickeas, Armando Rodriguez

Looking at these lists, the free agents spots will open up (5 spots) and I imagine Carrasco gets released or DFA’d at some point, whether it’s in the offseason if they really need a spot or in the spring (6 spots). I think Paulino gets non-tendered (6 spots) and possibly Buchholz too, perhaps to be re-signed on a minor league non-roster deal (7 spots). Pelfrey and Pagan are wild cards…if I keep one of them, it’d be Pagan just because there’s not a lot of short term options available that are better than Pagan. There are similarly mediocre pitchers available for less. That’s the wild card here, not to mention that one or both could perhaps be used in a trade. Let’s say the hang onto them for now (still at 7 free spots). Beyond that, guys like Pridie, Baxter, Nickeas and Rodriguez are decent depth but not incredibly talented in any way and so if a 40 man spot is really needed, I could see one of those guys being bumped from the 40 man, probably for a free agent signing or trade acquisition, and if they slip through waivers, being invited to spring training as non-roster minor league invites, should they choose to stay in the organization and not elect free agency.

So as of now, it looks like there should be 6-7 spots definitely open when free agency opens up but most of those likely get filled by guys being protected from the Rule V draft in December. I’m sure a few of those guys will get traded as well…there’s just too many people to protect who could be grabbed. Ultimately Nieuwenhuis, Lagares, Havens, Familia are the shoo-ins for protection and Robert Carson, Collin McHugh or Cesar Puello possibly too. I think they’ll leave Flores and Marte unprotected because neither is close to big league ready and they don’t play multiple positions. Puello gets protected because he has speed and can play all 3 outfield positions and could be a serviceable 5th outfielder for a season with some upside beyond that.

But again, that’s just a gut feeling.