According to rotoworld, the Mets declined arbitration on Paul Lo Duca, Shawn Green, Mike DiFelice, Aaron Sele, Jeff Conine, Sandy Alomar Jr, and Jose Valentin. Reports from last month indicated that Jeff Conine was planning on retiring.

No surprises here. With the acquisition of Church and Schneider, that left no room for Lo Duca, Green and our pair of minor league catchers. Likewise, the Castillo deal combined with Stache’s heath problems pretty much sealed his fate. Of the list, chances are only Green and Lo Duca end up on a MLB 25 man roster next season.

Mets veteran pitcher Aaron Sele and veteran catchers Mike DiFelice and Sandy Alomar Jr. have all filed for free agency. This brings the total to nine Mets who will test the market.

John Delcos reports that the mets made some decisions today, announcing that Sele and Smith will both be on the 25-man roster and in the bullpen once the season starts. Ben Johnson and Anderson Hernendez were both sent down to New Orleans, as was Jorge Sosa.

Nothing terrible earth shattering in this announcement.  It seems like it was pretty much said Sunday that Sele and Smith were making the roster, or at the very least it was strongly implied.  While he seems to have shown some improvement, Anderson Hernendez still didn't seem to be at a high enough level that anyone expected to see him make it either, especially with both Valentine and Easley around to cover 2nd base. Johnson was a probable but unlikely roster addition, depending on how many pitchers the team decides to take.  With him officially optioned down, that would be a stronger indication of Lastings making the roster.  Aside from that though, the only thing now is who our final bullpen member is.  As mentioned the other day, do we go Adkins and if he stinks release him and then try Park? Or do we go Park and write off Adkins as a loss? I know Burgos had a strong finish, but I still think he needs more time, and assume Willie, Omar and Co see him as the 3rd option of those three as well.

Marty Noble over at mets.com is reporting that Smith and Sele will both be joining Chan Ho Park in the bullpen on the 25 man roster. The rest of the bullpen would then consist of Wagner, Heilman, The Show, and Feliciano.

While the article claims that nothing is set in stone, the fact that its appearing on the official team page as news, one would assume that barring any major problems or injuries (or a Sele or Park temper tantrum) thats the bullpen. This at least answers some questions, though still no word on if they plan on going with four starters for the first stretch, and if they do if they'll carry an extra arm in the bullpen (perhaps Sosa) or an extra bat on the bench.  Speaking of which, while its generally assumed Newhan is getting that last bench spot, still no official word there either.

Regardless, it seems that much like of the readers and posters here, the Mets brass believes Burgos needs more time in AAA.