Hot Offseason Action: Mets

This is part of a series of posts in which we call out all 30 teams for their wily offseason moves and tragic offseason blunders.

The Mets obviously didn’t feel like they needed to do much work this offseason. They brought back Tom Glavine, Jose Valentine and Orlando Hernandez (aka, the old guys). And they signed RP Scott Schoeneweis and RP Jorge Sosa as free agents (aka, the cheap bullpen guys).

The only big Mets signing was LF Moises Alou, who can flat out hit, but has been bothered by injuries the last few years and is 40.

The Mets also made the “We’ve decided not to care about that” move of the winter, signing Guilerma Mota to a two year contract just weeks after he was suspended 50 games for a steroids violation. There is little reason to think that Mota will be any good once he’s off the juice, but maybe Mets GM Omar Minya knows something I don’t.

The big question for the Mets in 2007 will be their rotation. Here’s what Mets writer Adam Rubin has to say about the Mets’ starting pitching:

It’s the major concern heading into the year. You have to hope that Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez, both in their 40s, stay healthy. You have to assume that the progress and maturation of Oliver Perez and John Maine continue. And you have to hope that someone steps up from Aaron Sele, Mike Pelfrey, Phillip Humber, Jorge Sosa and Jason Vargas to claim the fifth slot. That said, I think the run production should be strong enough for the Mets to win their share of games. The major concern would be entering the postseason with this rotation, which lacks a dominant, No. 1 starter. But between Pedro Martinez returning and what may be available at the trading deadline, we’re far from October.

The postseason? Even the New York beat writers are taking the playoffs for granted! They win one division title and all of a sudden they think they’re entitled? That’s balls.

The Mets have a good, young team. But they’ll need their young guns (we’re looking at you, Jose Reyes) to stay healthy in order to score enough runs to overcome their lackluster starting staff.

The Alou addition was a good one. But the Amazins might want to add another starter before the start of camp, especially with Pedro out til God knows when.

Offseason Grade: B

Acquisitions: Moises Alou, Scott Schoeneweis, Jorge Sosa, Jason Vargas, Damion Easley, Ben Johnson, Jon Adkins.

Losses: Cliff Floyd, Steve Trachsel.

SS Jose Reyes .300/.354/.487
C Paul Lo Duca .318/.355/.428
CF Carlos Beltran .275/.388/.594
1B Carlos Delgado .265/.561/.548
3B David Wright .311/.381/.531
LF Moises Alou .301/.352//.571
RF Shawn Green .277/.344/.432
2B Jose Valentin .271/.330/.490

LHP Tom Glavine 15-7, 3.82
RHP Orlando Hernandez 11-11, 4.66
RHP John Maine 6-5, 3.60
LHP Oliver Perez 3-13, 6.55
RHP Mike Pelfrey 2-1, 5.48

CL Billy Wagner 40 SV, 2.24 ERA

- Hot Offseason Action Index -