Mets a few good moves away from competing

Last season, the Mets used 117 different lineups (not including the pitcher) in 162 games. Almost every regular spent time on the disabled list, making for what resulted in a lost season.

Yet, despite losing 92 games last season, the Mets haven't been very proactive in the free-agent market, outside of signing leftfielder Jason Bay.

Instead, much of the hope in Queens relies on everyone's being healthy again. Considering Jose Reyes played 36 games and Carlos Beltran 81, getting a full season out of those two would be like a new acquisition. So much for that plan: Beltran had surgery on his right knee yesterday and will miss the start of the season.

The Mets still have holes to fill, and those new players could come in the weeks leading up to spring training. With a first baseman, catcher, and pitcher still on the list of things to add for general manager Omar Minaya, the Mets could be far from done this off-season. They, like other teams, will wait out the market.

Here is a breakdown of what the Mets have done:

2009 record: 70-92, fourth place, 23 games back - 671 runs scored, 757 runs allowed.

Last season in 140 characters or less: Name a player and he likely spent time on the DL. (But Mr. Met stayed healthy.) Redding, Parnell, Figueroa, Nieve, Misch all started games.

RHP Kelvim Escobar, RHP Ryota Igarashi, RHP Clint Everts, C Henry Blanco, 3B Mike Hessman, C Chris Coste, LHP Jay Marshall, LF Jason Bay, 2B Russ Adams, RHP R.A. Dickey.

1B Fernando Tatis, LF Gary Sheffield, RHP J.J. Putz, SS Ramon Martinez, 1B Carlos Delgado, LF Jeremy Reed, RHP Lance Broadway, RHP Tim Redding, LF Cory Sullivan.

Jan. 5 - Signed LF Jason Bay

Because it took so long for the Mets to sign Bay with reportedly few others interested in his services, it raised the question: What was Bay waiting for? Peter Gammons said Bay would rather play in Beirut next season. At his introductory news conference, Bay maintained that wasn't true. The Mets guaranteed him four years and $66 million (with a club option for 2014 of $17 million, with a $3 million buyout), so that was plenty enough to make Bay happy about heading to Queens.

The native Canadian set career highs in home runs (36) and RBIs (119) last season and could be the pop in the middle of the lineup the Mets sorely lacked last season. Mets fans may be upset that the team settled for Bay instead of Matt Holliday (who opted for St. Louis soon after), but Bay is a durable player who should live up to his recent performance in the first two years of the contract. It's later in the deal when Bay could decline significantly.

Dec. 18 - Signed RHP Kelvim Escobar.

OK, so there are few choices. (You didn't think we'd put Chris Coste here, did you?) But Escobar could prove to be a key pitcher for the Mets this season if he can recapture the stuff he had a few seasons ago. And that's a big if, of course. Escobar has thrown exactly five innings in the last two seasons. Before then, he was an elite pitcher, winning 18 games in 2007 and having a sub-4.00 ERA for four straight seasons.

The Mets, among other teams, watched Escobar throw in Venezuela during the off-season and came away impressed enough to sign him to a one-year, $1.25 million deal. It's a low-risk signing and could pay off big-time if Escobar becomes a setup man to Francisco Rodriguez.

Not adding another starter - yet.

Indications are that the Mets are still in the market for a starting pitcher. That would be wise. Obviously, the rotation was ravaged by injury last season, but even if the entire current staff is healthy, serious concerns remain. None of them, however, involve ace Johan Santana.

Mike Pelfrey had a very good 2008 but clearly regressed in 2009. John Maine has been healthy for a full season just once. Jonathon Niese has a promising future, but he is coming off a major injury where he tore his right hamstring.

And Oliver Perez is simply a head case. So GM Omar Minaya needs to sign someone such as Joel Pineiro, Jon Garland, or Jarrod Washburn to fill out the middle of the rotation.

C Bengie Molina - The Mets reportedly are expected to sign Molina to a two-year deal in the coming days. He would be the third catcher signed by the club this off-season.

1B Daniel Murphy - Carlos Delgado could still come back, but at this point, Murphy is penciled in at first.

2B Luis Castillo - He's been rumored to be out the door all off-season but the Mets have been unable to find a suitor.

3B David Wright - He insisted Citi Field wasn't what stymied his power numbers. Still, the Mets have to be concerned about the star hitting only 10 home runs.

SS Jose Reyes - There are plenty of questions about Reyes' future. He was limited to 36 games last season because of a torn tendon behind his right knee and a torn right hamstring.

LF Jason Bay - He's coming off career highs in home runs and RBIs, but how much will City Field affect him after he played in Fenway Park?

CF Carlos Beltran - Limited to just 81 games, Beltran was on pace to post his best average and on-base percentage as a Met. And now he must recover from knee surgery.

RF Jeff Francoeur - He doesn't believe in walks, but Francoeur hit .311 in 75 games with the Mets after a midseason deal with Atlanta.

LHP Johan Santana - Pitching with a sore elbow, he still won 13 games with a terrible offense and compiled a 3.13 ERA.

RHP Mike Pelfrey - He never put it all together after a breakout 2008 season. Pelfrey allowed 213 hits in 1841/3 innings last year.

RHP John Maine - Health is always a concern with Maine. He started just 15 games last year and never put it all together.

LHP Jonathon Niese - Before completely tearing his right hamstring, Niese showed a bit of promise. He is just 23 years old.

LHP Oliver Perez - Assuming the Mets sign another starter, Perez is probably the odd man out. The Phillies hope not.

RHP Francisco Rodriguez - The record-setting closer saved 27 fewer games in 2009 than he did in 2008. He also became hittable.

LHP Pedro Feliciano - He's the workhorse of the bullpen. Feliciano has pitched in 78, 86 and 88 games in each of the last three seasons.

RHP Kelvim Escobar - He's a major question mark after barely pitching the last two seasons. But he could be important.

RHP Bobby Parnell - The Mets tried him as a starter. That failed. Now he needs to refine his role as a middle reliever.

Last season was a lost one, about as bad as they get in New York. There is a stigma about the new stadium that the Mets will have to overcome early in the season. But if Molina and Delgado sign, the lineup could be formidable. Still, the pitching has just as many issues as it did last season, and until the Mets shore up the rotation (and the shoddy defense behind it), competing will be a challenge.

This week, Inquirer staff writer Matt Gelb will be analyzing the off-season moves and changes of the Phillies' rivals in the National League East.

Today: New York Mets

Tomorrow: Florida Marlins

Saturday: Washington Nationals

Yesterday: Atlanta Braves

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Individual regular season tickets go on sale Thursday, Feb. 18.

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