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About K-Rod, I think $75 million is too much to spend on a relief pitcher. I'd rather get Fuentes or trade for Huston Street/Joe Nathan.
The bullpen is the glaring problem on this team, and more than anything else needs to be addressed.
As for the money, don't worry about money. They already recognize that Wagner is a sunk cost, so they don't factor it into the equation. So to spend $15 million a year on a guy like K-Rod, with his qualification? Easy call.
closer- krod
set up- lyon (heres my surprise guy here, BOBBY PARNELL
7th- duaner
6th/middle guy- ayala
lhp- feliciano
rhp- joe smith
long guy- stokes
Here is what needs to happen with the Mets bullpen.
DO NOT SIGN K-ROD. As much as he might seem appealing at first glance, his violent delivery and tumultuous attitude are very troubling.
Do you want to be stuck in the middle of that contract with him on the DL?
Brian Fuentes is another name that the Mets MUST AVOID. Fuentes will likely command a 3-4 year, $30-50 million dollar contract with the base salary being at least $10' MM a year.
Signing Fuentes would be an overreaction to a problem because he would only hinder the Mets future plans.
Think of this. Would you rather sign Fuentes now, or sign Vladimir Guerrero, John Lackey, or possibly even Josh Beckett after 09'?
Right now, the free agent class of the 08' offseason is not as appealing as next years'.
The Mets need to wait and not make impulsive moves.
What the Mets DO NEED to accomplish this offseason is this:
1) Rid the team of Heilman and Shoeneweis by using any means necessary, lose Figueroa or put him Buffalo, and do the same with Sanchez.
2) Trade for J.J. Putz. At only $5 MM for 09' with an $8.6 MM CO for 10' with a $1 MM BO, he would keep the Mets plans extremely flexible.
The Mets should trade Luis Castillo, Delgado, Aaron Heilman, and cash considerations for Putz, Johjima, and possibly even a throw-in to complete the deal.
Putz and Johjima would cost the Mets $30 MM in guaranteed salary from 09'-11' (Johjima- 3 year $24 MM contract) and Delgado, Castillo, and Heilman would cost the Mariners at most $37 MM (assuming Heilman's maximum 09' -10' salary is $2.25 MM for both years) in guaranteed salary from 09'-11'
Although, if the Mets agree to eat maybe $3 MM of Castillo's contract for the three years remaining on it, the Mariners would only have to pay $28 MM instead of $37 MM from 09'-11' (37-9=28)
The Mets would then have to pay for $39 MM if they agree to eat $3 MM a year for three years of Castillo's contract because it would increase the guaranteed salary of their side of the deal by $9 MM (The $9 MM increase comes from the proposed $3 MM a year compensation for Castillo's contract)
Essentially, the Mets would be paying for $39 MM from 09'-11' and the Mariners would only pay $28 MM from 09'-11' MM
The Mariners would be paying $21.5 MM in salary from this deal in 09' (Castillo's $3.25 MM with the -$3 MM discount from the Mets' cash compensation, plus Delgado's $16 MM contract, and Heilman's assumed $2.25 MM contract = $21.5), but only $5.5 MM for 10'-11' ($3.25+$2.25).
This monetary compensation would be enough to acquire JJ Putz because the Mets would be taking Johjima's contract while heavily discounting Castillo's contract to the Mariners.
If necessary, the Mets would include Duaner Sanchez to compliment Aaron Heilman along with Delgado and Castillo.
Delgado would give the Mariners a quality 1B without holding them down long term, Heilman with whom they could experiment as a starter, Sanchez in the pen, and Castillo would open up the catching position to Jeff Clement.
2) Then the Mets could sign Juan Cruz - 2 years, $10MM is sufficient - to set up (base salary of $3.9 MM with a $1.1 MM incentive a year and a $4.5 MM option for a third year; Cruz has been a prolific strikeout pitcher the last two seasons making him ideal as a closer, just in case), who would take one of their draft picks away but it would still leave them with two in the first round and first supplemental round
3) Sign Jeremy Affeldt or Joe Beimel as the lefty specialist (probably will cost another first round pick)
4) Keep Smith, Feliciano, Stokes, and Brandon Knight as long reliever
A bullpen consisting of...
CL Putz
SU Cruz
MR Smith
MR Stokes
MR Feliciano
MR Affeldt/ Beimel (preferably Affeldt since I do not see his stats commending Type A status)
LR Knight
... would compliment Santana, Maine and Pelfrey.
salary proposed in the post above, that should have been $6 MM a year
Furthermore, the Mets do not need a Mark Teixeira to fill in the hole. Carlos Delgado may have surprised many people down the stretch, but that does not get rid of his awful first four months a a Mets.
I would rather see what Evans and Tatis, possibly even Mike Carp do at first base. Carlos Delgado is just another reminder of the Mets past. The Mets need to move towards the future, a younger future.
Also, Sanchez "had surgery fro god sakes?" I would not mind Sanchez staying, but that would be a great risk.
The Mets do not need to sign every big free agent in the market. This team needs to use the Minnesota and Oakland philosophy to raise a club and use their wealth as a contingency plan instead.
Signing Juan Cruzs, Affeldts, Puntos, and the lower names to temporarily fill in the voids until the draft process is legitimized is essential to the prevention of a 07' and 08' season from repeating.