How would you utilize the Free Agent market to address the problems of the Mets?

Salaries Coming off the Books: 29.8 Million





Pedro Martinez - 11.5MM ; Moises Alou - 7.5MM ; Oliver Perez 6.5MM; Orlando Hernandez 6MM ; Jorge Sosa 2MM ; Matt Wise 1.2MM ; Damion Easley 950K ; Fernando Tatis 400K ; 1/4 of Luis Ayala's salary 400K





Salary increases: Johan Santana - 5.5MM ; David Wright 2.5MM; Jose Reyes 1.75MM; Ramon Castro - 650K ; Endy Chavez 250K





Salary Decreases: Carlos Delgado - 4MM - The Marlins agreed to pay for the buyout clause in Delgado's contract, but the Mets will obviously be picking it up.





Arbitration Eligble: Ryan Church, John Maine, Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez, Pedro Feliciano





The Mets payroll went from 120.9 in '07 to 137.4 in '08. If it were to increased by 10% in between '08 %26amp; '09, it become 151 Million. Santana was signed as a long term investment. He was paid 13.5MM in '08 which was similar to the salary of Glavine's in '07. So it's shown Wilpon's willing to spend. The number could be even higher because they're going into a new stadium %26amp; have come off another heart wrenching ending. So add that 29.8MM that's shaved off plus the presumptive 13.6MM and the Mets will look to have 43.4MM.





Pretend your Omar Minaya. So how should the Mets use this 43 or 44 Million? Assume of all of the following guys down there, if there's a way you fill in and fix the problems of the Mets with this amount of money how would you do so?





Superstars Free Agents: It's rumoring that C.C. Sabathia is looking at a 7yr/150MM+ deal. K-Rod's looking at 4yr/60MM at minimum. And Manny Ramirez is looking at 5yr/85MM.





Noteworthy stats: The Mets bullpen blew 29 saves. 11 in the 9th inning (7 by Wagner). 18 before the 9th inning. Feliciano, Smith, Ayala and Heilman all had at least 78 appearances. The Mets still somehow won 89 games. The Mets were ranked 3rd in the NL in hitting, Johan Santana had the best ERA in best baseball and 206 K's.





So it's obvious the bullpen was the part of the team that dragged down a very good team. I'll list the prioritized available options of the Mets this off-season. Starting with closer, working to set-up/bullpen, to the 4 %26amp; 5 starters void and finally to 2B and/or LF.





Noteworthy Free Agent Closers:





Francisco Rodriguez: 62 Saves, 2.24 ERA (27 years old) - Looking for 4 or 5 year deal at 15-17MM annually.





Brian Fuentes: 30 Saves, 2.73 ERA (turning 33 in August) - Looking for a deal at around 3yr/36MM similar to the extension Lidge got with the Phillies.





Kerry Wood: 34 Saves, 3.26 ERA (turning 32 in June)





Noteworthy Right-Handed set up men:





David Weathers: '08: 3.25 ERA, 72 appearances, 69 IP





In all of Weather's last 4 seasons with the Reds, he'd never had less than 67 appearances, 69 IP's or higher than a 3.94 ERA. He's also had 50 saves in the last 4 seasons. He's 39 and will likely have market value expected of him is 2yr/7MM.





Russ Springer: '08: 2.32 ERA, 70 Appearances, 50 IP





In all of his last 3 seasons, he's never had less than 70 appearances, 50 IP's or higher than a 3.47 ERA.


He's 40 and will likely either get a 1 or 2 year deal at 4 Million a year somewhere.





Juan Cruz: '08: 2.61 ERA, 57 Appearances, 51 IP





He's only 28 so he'll likely command up to three years probably ranging from 10 to 12 million.





There are a few other decent right-handed reliever's out on the market, but these are obviously the best.





Noteworthy Left-Handed Set-Up Men:





Dennys Reyes: '08: 2.33 ERA, 75 Appearances, 46 IP





He's never had above a 3.99 ERA in his last seasons with the Twins. He actually even had an 0.89 ERA in 66 appearances in '06. He's 32 and will likely command up to a three years contract ranging from 12 to 15 million.





Joe Biemel: '08: 2.02 ERA, 71 Appearances, 49 IP





In his last 3 seasons with LA, he's never had less than 62 Appearances, 49 IP or an ERA higher than 3.88. He's 32 and will likely get a similar contract to Reyes.





Will Ohman: '08: 3.68 ERA, 83 Appearances, 58 IP





His previous seasons were not as solid, but he had a very good year. He'll likely get a 2 or 3 year deal somewhere at 4 million a year. He turns 32 next August.





Arthur Rhodes: '08: 2.04 ERA, 61 Appearances, 35 IP





He had a 0.68 ERA with the Marlins in 25 appearances following the mid-season trade so he'll likely get a deal of at least 3 million a year. However, he's 39, missed all of '07 with injury and had a poor '06 season so he probably won't get more than a one year deal.





Jeremy Affeldt: '08: 3.33 ERA, 74 Appearances, 78 IP





He had identical numbers in '07. He's more of a middle reliever than a set up guy. He's only turning 30 next June so he'll likely get a 2 year deal somewhere at around 3 million a year.





The Mets will either need to re-sign Oliver Perez or replace somehow replace him with a solid 3 or 4 starter with Derek Lowe or Jon Garland. All three of those pitchers will get in the area of 13-15MM. Perhaps the Mets spend an extra 8 million annually and make a bid for Sabathia|||Dude,


If I wanted to know this much about the Mets I would be on their staff. Throwing money at people never fixes anything. Look at your cross town rivals.