Dierkes figures that the Mets currently stand at $110 million on the books, with $35-$40 million coming off of it, which can help to plug the many holes the Mets have exposed.

…of course, it all depends on whether or not they will spend that money…

Dierkes suggests that, with so many holes, the Mets are better off obtaining four or five “sensible” free agents rather than pursue big money players such as John Lackey or Matt Holliday.

…i am torn on the scenario… i think that both players would definitely improve things, as they would have a left fielder that they have longed for, as well as a pitcher to compliment Johan Santana, but is also the caliber of an ace…

…that said, i agree with tim, in that there are so many holes that it could make more sense to plug each of them with sensible talent… it would certainly be an improvement over what they have now and, at this point, i am not sure that signing the big ticket is the answer anymore…

…they need personalities and specific talents that fit the mold of a team that they are trying to build, and while lackey is someone that fits that mold, i am not sure that holliday is – considering that he is not a defensively-oriented left fielder, and defense has been a big problem for the Mets in 2009…

Dierkes believes a group of Bobby Abreu, Nick Johnson and someone like Gregg Zaun, who would be paired with Josh Thole, could all be had for around $25 million and would give the Mets five guys with a .400 or higher OBP.

…abreu is always an interesting target, but a lot has been said about his attitude, especially when the team goes bad… that said, it’s hard to argue with the level of consistency he comes to the table with, and this year is no different than prior years for him… of course, he isn’t getting any younger…

For more on this, check out MLB Trade Rumors.

The 31–year-old Riske has made 393 relief appearances during his eight-year career, during which he has a 3.40 ERA while opponents have hit .231 against him. 

He had an ERA below 3.00 last season for the first time since 2003.

…my sense is that he will get offered the standard three-year, $10 million deal that seems to go to his level of pitcher in the open market of late…

…i know there will be people who scream for the Mets to sign him…the thing is, i can’t shake this bad feeling about chasing relievers around the league, hoping they duplicate the previous season’s success, all while locking them in to long-term deals, which the Mets said they were against last off-season, as a justification for not re-signing Chad Bradford, but which they gave to both Guillermo Mota and Scott Schoeneweis…i just don’t trust any one reliever any more, and certainly not enough for more than one season…

…nevertheless, if the Mets are going to dish out yet another long-term contract for a relief pitcher, riske is a good of a choice as any, since he has at least been somewhat consistent over his career…of course, his name contains the word ‘risk,’ so forgive me if i remain cautious…

According to the report, MLB sales have increased 50 percent from 2004 and have doubled since 2000, while “NFL’s sales grew at roughly half of baseball’s pace during the same time period.”

…i’m so torn on this…i like lo duca a lot…but, in talking with people connected to the team, i sense ownership and some coaches and players have soured on him, as they feel he was too negative during September, i.e., the team looked to him as an emotional leader, during which he was down and out and depressed…to me, he was probably just reflecting his honesty, which is a good thing to some extent…what’s more, i keep hearing that the team wants a catcher who works better with the pitching staff…and while i’m not totally sure what that means, the guy who is referenced as a better example is O’s C Ramon Hernandez, who is rumored to be available through trade…

…if i had to guess, at this point, i’d say the Mets will pursue other options at catcher, while considering lo duca a fall-back position, knowing how badly he wants to return…personally, i’d just re-sign him…i think his heart, pride and intensity is something this club should be built around…

…hat tip to Toasty Joe for the link…

Backman, as quoted by Pearlman…

“When [Arizona] told me they were taking away the job, it was like a death in the family… All I wanted to do was manage a major league baseball team…Now here I am…I’m not one to sit back and mope.  What happens, happens.  But there’s also a part of me that says, ‘All these other guys get second chances.’  That’s what I don’t understand.  I don’t know why I’m different.  I don’t know if it’s something someone in Arizona said.  The baseball world is a small world.  Especially in the front office.  I have my suspicions, but I just don’t know for sure why I’m such an outcast.”

…the sense i get is that if backman is to ever be offered a job in baseball, it is going to come from the Mets, for a few different reasons, but mostly because his hard-nosed attitude could be an asset in their minor-league system…i’m not saying i expect it to happen, but if it did i would not be surprised…

Rosenthal continues by writing, “While hiring Torre would be an awful thing to do to Randolph, it would be a seminal moment for the Mets in their quest to recapture New York from the Yankees.”

…ugh, sure, seminal is one way to put it…yes, torre was part of the Mets franchise for five seasons, but, come on…that’s not recapturing new york, that’s capturing the enemy and will only further solidify the idea that the Mets are second fiddle to the Yankees…frankly, as a Mets fan, i’d be embarrassed…especially if one of Jorge Posada or Mariano Rivera followed him across the river…

…i’m all for winning, but the organization must always remember that fans want to identify with the team, that’s part of the dynamic that keeps us loyal, whether we realize it or not…for some of us, part of our identity is very much tied to hating the Yankees…and the business, public-relations side of the Mets should not forget that…

…i understand that rosenthal is just posing a hypothetical…but i don’t even like thinking about this as a way to kill time…please, let’s never discuss this again…

…it’s the best, jerry…the best…

Beltran is expected to be ready to play in time for spring training.

John Maine also had an MRI on his left hip, which revealed that he does not have a sports hernia.

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