So while we’re all well versed in the Phillies offseason moves, I’ve decided to inform and educate about what our fellow NL East rivals have been up to since September of Oh-Nine.  I’m starting with the Mets, because they’re LOLtastic.  Omar Minaya is the ringleader of the largest circus that the MLB has seen in quite some time.

Honk Honk

Their offseason will be known more for their non-moves to fix their holes, than their actual transactions.  No Joel Pinero, no Jon Garland, no Ben Sheets, no John Lackey.  Yes, they signed Jason Bay, but unless he can pitch every fifth day, his impact is going to be fairly neutral.  The pitching staff that had a combined 7.3 WAR (only above the Padres, Nationals, and Brewers) will again rely on a post-surgery Johan Santana, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, and a fill-in youngster.  So here we go, after the jump…

Additions (’09 WAR):

• C Chris Coste (-.2)
• C Henry Blanco (1.1)
• P Kelvim Escobar (.1)
• LF Jason Bay (3.5)
• P Ryota Igarashi
• CF Gary Matthews Jr. (-0.8)
• 1B Mike Jacobs (-.6)
• C Rod Barajas (.6)
• P Kiko Calero (1.4)

Subtractions (’09 WAR)

• 1B Carlos Delgado (.8 / 3.0 in ’08)
• SS Ramon Martinez (-.6)
• P J.J. Putz (.1)
• OF Gary Sheffield (.3)
• P Tim Redding (.1)
• OF Corey Sullivan (.2)
• OF Jeremy Reed (-.3)
• P Brian Stokes (0)

Totals: (5.1) – (.6ish) = +4.5 wins

All in all, it was actually a decent offseason for Los Mets.  And trust me, I use the word “decent” lightly.  Decent, as in… not a complete clusterfuck.  The impact of most of their signings outside of Bay is completely negligible (and even his is iffy).  A few thoughts popped into my mind while staring at this screen for the past few hours, trying to wrap this up in a way that’s only fitting for the Metropolitans.

First:  What’s with the catcher fetish? They added three catchers, and only one of them is actually better than the incumbent Omir Santos.  One can only assume Omar’s having a little too much fun behind closed doors.

Smelly Fingers

Second: Is this team pitching optional? I’m all for improving the bullpen, but you’re relying on a Japanese import, Kiko Calero, and some random “prospects” to keep your pen together at the back end, with FRod to close.  And the starters are just a mess.  Too many question marks to not go out and get another starter… but they decided to stick with Oliver Perez (who is laughing all the way to the bank), John Maine (who has regressed the past two seasons), and Mike Pelfrey (and his fantastical 1.62 BB/K in ’09).  Johan’s going to be Johan, obviously, but what are the odds the other schmucks are going to show up this year?  It’s like the island of misfit toys out on the mound in Queens.

Third:  How hysterical is it going to be watching Jason Bay out in LF? Brad Hawpe’s going to have a run for his money for the “Worst Fielder Alive” award.  You could put a cardboard cutout in left field that would end up with a better UZR than Bay.

Fourth:  What can you expect from Reyes, Wright, and Bay? I’ll start with Reyes, because he’s the tricky one.  While he’s been a 5+ WAR player the previous three years, he also has to stay on the field in 2010 to make any sort of impact.  I’d expect a slightly down year from Reyes as he works out the kinks from his recent medical struggles.

Thankfully for the Mets, DWright shouldn’t be as balls awful as he was in 2009.  Everything went downhill.  His power vanished (10 HR, .140 ISO), his fielding hit rock bottom, and his bat was missing more balls than ever in the strike zone (80.4 contact%, 26.2% K rate).  Certainly wasn’t expected, and shouldn’t completely reoccur this year.  While CitiField will still have that shrinking effect to his power numbers, like steroids on Canseco’s testicles, it will still be a fairly ho-hum year.  As his contact% goes back to normal, his inflated BABIP (.390 in ’09!) and K rate should go down as well… but down expect the power numbers to magically reappear.

As for Bay… this could be a disaster.  He’s a terrible fielder (-11.5/-18.4/-13 UZR the past three years), and is going to the Bermuda Triangle of ballparks.  While he’ll still be solid at the plate, I’d expect a decline in power to the 25-28 HR range, and the rest depends on the protection that David Wright and Carlos Beltran (eventually) can provide.

Fifth and final: So where do they stand in the NL East? I have to stick them in fourth.  While they’re going to be improved from last season, I just don’t seen them getting past the Bravos and Fishies.  They didn’t improve their defense in their ginormous park (hell, they probably just downgraded with Jason Bay), they didn’t improve their starting pitching, and they added a power hitter

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