Watching Derek Lowe tonight and throughout the year, it has become clear that he is exactly the kind of pitcher the Mets need to go after in the offseason. While he struggled in the 6th inning tonight, he has showed me enough to make me realize I would rather have Scott Boras fleece us for Lowe than fleece us for Perez.

Obviously the bullpen is a priority but that is a much more complicated topic that I intend to get to another time with Schoenweis, Heilman, Feliciano, Joe Smith and Duaner Sanchez ALL under contract. The bullpen needs a makeover and it will involve trades, hopefully a signing and finding the right pieces (Kunz, Parnell and Co.).

Our lineup is also in a holding pattern. Before looking at Orlando Hudson, any potential Leftfielder, or the peculiar Ryan Church situation, I would like to see how the Arizona Fall League plays out. If Daniel Murphy proves to be a competent second basemen, then he is a very good hitting second basemen that would allow us to adjust accordingly with respect to the outfield.

Starting pitching is one aspect of the team that could be discussed now. Right now Johan Santana, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey are under contract. Here’s what is going down:

1. Maine: Arbitration eligible and coming off surgery (of what was reported as the biggest bone spur Maine’s doctor has ever seen). He’ll want to strike a deal in arbitration and the Mets would be wise to extend him into his thirties at a “I just had surgery and haven’t had a payday in my entire career” discount? Nonetheless, he’ll be a Met next year and should be healthy by Spring Training.

2. Oliver Perez: Let him go. I’ve enjoyed watching him when has his electric stuff but I do not expect Boras to give the Mets a discount for saving his career. Offer him 4 years and 50 million and if Boras tries to negotiate let him go. Let’s see how Boras does in the open market. Unfortunately, I think he will do well with a 27 year old lefty with great stuff. We know better than to give him ace money.

3. Pedro Martinez: If he wants to get paid for what he is then I am fine with having him back. If he wants anything more than 3-5 million a year then we probably should let him go. Even if we do sign him, he probably won’t pitch the whole season but we owe it to him for making the Mets respectable again. I would guess he won’t be back but the Mets definitely owe it to him to make a modest (though low) offer.

4. Derek Lowe. Sign him. He is the Anti-Oliver Perez. He is solid. He’ll bring some big game experience and could be a rock in our rocky rotation. Johan is Johan. Pelfrey is great but still not the kind of sure thing we need. Maine is not a sure thing. Derek Lowe is a sure thing.

He is 36 but has not lost a step. I believe he would be a very safe 36 year old free agent signee. He has shown no signs of dead arm like Pedro did pre-4 year contract. I would give him at least 3 years and 36 million. This will probably turn into a bigger contract though if Lowe continues to pitch well in the playoffs. Maybe he has a knack for winning world series’ in contract years (one year contract?). Boras will get Lowe a big contract but it won’t be as big as Olivers because of age. With Maine, Pelfrey, Niese(hopefully) and Johan (still under 30), we can afford an experienced, reliable starter (Pedro is not reliable).

5. Jon Niese. If we pick up Lowe, we have him, Johan, Maine and Pelfrey. Those are four pretty reliable starters. If we give Niese a safety net of maybe Pedro and bunch of Claudio Vargas type starters, then this could work. I’d like to see him get a full year under his belt. He struggled a little bit but he has some serious potential with that curve (hold back your Zito comparisons).

Rotation:

L Johan Santana
R Derek Lowe
R John Maine
R Mike Pelfrey
L Jon Niese
R Pedro Martinez?