MMO will be looking at multiple bargain options that are still available for the Mets this offseason. With Sandy Alderson figuring to have about $10 million left to spend, the Mets best chance to fill holes will be shopping at the dollar store.

Earlier this offseason, Mets general manager John Ricco let on that the team would be “big players” this offseason, as they looked to fill holes around the diamond.

Fast forward a month and a half later and things have taken a complete 180, in typical Mets fashion. What was once reported that general manager Sandy Alderson would have somewhere between $30-40 million to spend is no longer. Instead, Alderson will have a fraction of that to work with, with the only signing he’s made this offseason being reliever Anthony Swarzak on a two-year, $14 million deal.

Alderson is going to have to get crafty with his limited funds. Last Tuesday, my colleague Josh Finkelstein highlighted veteran Brandon Phillips as a bargain option for second base.

On Wednesday, I wrote about Tim Lincecum as a dollar store starting pitcher option and on Thursday Michael Mayer touched on former Met Oliver Perez being a potential second LOOGY option, as well as Daniel Nava as a potential first base and corner outfielder. To end 2017, John Sheridan talked about Jose Bautista as another bargain option.

Today, I will be talking about John Lackey as rotation depth. MMO’s John Jackson talked a little bit about Lackey in an article several weeks ago as a bargain rotation piece.

Now 39-years-old, Lackey has been around the block, just finishing up his 15th big league season. He has spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Cubs and last year registered a 12-12 record with a 4.59 ERA, 5.30 FIP, 1.277 WHIP and 7.9 K/9 over 31 games (30 started).

What is most appealing to me about Lackey is that he has been a beacon of health throughout his big league career. He has started under 27 games just twice in his big league career and that includes his rookie year with the Anaheim Angels in 2002.

While he is now at the end of his career, bringing Lackey into the fold would help lengthen the rotation as well as providing a veteran presence in the locker room. He will also likely receive a one-year deal, or even potentially a minor league deal on the open market, though the former seems more likely.

The Mets won’t break the bank this offseason, that much is apparent and Lackey won’t break the bank. At the very least, bringing him into Spring would be a good move. Though New York might believe otherwise, I still think it’s important the team brings in external arms.

We saw just how precious pitching is in 2017, so the more arms around the better.