Now with the Mets having cleared one of their biggest offseason worries in the Francisco Rodriguez vesting option, does that make the Mets buyers during the trade deadline?
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Although a game has yet to be played after the All-Star break, this Mets team already takes on a new appearance. The bullpen corps is comprised of the same pitchers, and two (Bobby Parnell & Pedro Beato) will look to close out games now. Jason Isringhausen is a candidate to close as well, due to experience but this is a new dawn of allowing prospects to try and carry their weight. If either one of the three closer candidates can prove to be adequate if not excel in closing out games, the flexibility it provides financially is immense.
The thought is that with some added free space on the payroll this year, can they become players for another starter, possibly improve at catcher or add some right-handed bench depth? The options have expanded, and now the Mets can explore in-season options even though this K-Rod move is seen as somewhat of a defeatist move from a standpoint of competition.
In the offseason, the K-Rod option – no loger a worry, opens more options. Will the Mets re-sign Jose Reyes? That still isn’t known, but the amount of payroll that was opened is a much more positive sign today then it was a few days ago. Will the Mets re-sign Beltran? It is a dark horse option, but maybe Beltran won’t feel as betrayed by the Mets since most of the damage was done by the Minaya regime. Will the Mets look to sign some help in the offseason in both the starting rotation and at the catcher position.
This has been an interesting last few months, and with 18 days until the trade deadline, this can become a very exciting time for Mets fans.
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