So Many Questions As The Mets Head Into the Offseason

With the 2013 Playoffs just about reaching the halfway point, it is time for the Mets front office to begin preparing their plans for the offseason and 2014. After finishing a school test early on Friday, I took the time to write down some legitimate questions about the New York Mets players, Front Office, and Free Agency. If you have answers for any of these questions or have developed your own, leave them in the comments, and we’ll see what other Mets fans think. Lets get to it!

Pitchers

Will the Mets bring back Johan Santana? If so, in what role?

With Matt Harvey likely out for all of 2014, who will assume the number one starting pitcher position?

Could LaTroy Hawkins close for a full year in 2014 if Bobby Parnell cant?

Is Vic Black the closer of the future?

Do David Aardsma and Scott Atchison have a role with the team going forward?

Who is the lefty specialist next year? Scott Rice? Tim Byrdak? Josh Edgin? Pedro Feliciano?

Infielders

Was 2013 a sign of things to come for Travis d’Arnaud?

Is Anthony Recker back next year?

Is Ike Davis back next year?

Could Lucas Duda be the everyday First Baseman?

Will Daniel Murphy be moved (to another position or team)?

Could Eric Young Jr. play Second Base?

Where will the Mets look for a Shortstop?

Will Justin Turner be back? In what role?

Is Josh Satin an everyday player or a backup?

What position does Wilmer Flores play?

Outfielders

Is Eric Young Jr. the long term solution in Left Field

Can Juan Lagares hit enough to stay in the lineup everyday?

Is Mike Baxter a Met in 2014?

Does Kirk Nieuwenhuis become a forgotten (and unspellable) name?

What about Matt den Dekker?

Will the Mets outfield have a 25+ home run player next season?

Management

Will Terry Collins record an above .500 season during his tenure as Mets manager?

Will the decision to bring the entire coaching staff back for 2014 pay off?

Is Sandy Alderson pushing the team in the right direction?

Are the Wilpons running the team into the ground?

Free Agency

Can the Mets find another Marlon Byrd?

Can Sandy Alderson pull off another trade for prospects?

Is Shin-Soo Choo the answer in the outfield?

Is Jacoby Ellsbury a better option?

Will the Mets look externally for a First Baseman?

Will they add a Starting Pitcher?

How much will the Mets spend?

Thoughts & Predictions

Personally, I believe a Niese-Wheeler-Gee rotation is in order to begin the season, with LaTroy Hawkins and Bobby Parnell closing and Vic Black providing the bridge in the 8th inning. Scott Rice and Pedro Feliciano could be the Lefty Specialists in the pen out of Spring Training. David Aardsma will also be back in a middle inning role. Travis d’Arnaud will just barley receive the starting catcher nod, with Josh Satin, Eric Young, Stephen Drew and David Wright rounding out the infield.

Daniel Murphy has been traded away for a package of prospects and Ike Davis is starting in Las Vegas. Drew was signed for two years at $12 million. Lucas Duda, Juan Lagares and Marlon Byrd go left to right in the outfield. Duda only received the job because he impressed in the Spring while Byrd was brought back at $4 Million for a one year contract. Josh Satin, Justin Turner, Jordany Valdespin, and Mike Baxter come off the bench. Yes, JV1 was given another chance at a Major League roster spot. Juan Centeno backs up at the dish while Wilmer Flores and Matt den Dekker were left back at Triple A for conditioning and big league preparation. (Sorry, but .211 and .207 just won’t cut it).