In his most recent article, Ken Rosenthal discusses the state of the Mark DeRosa market.  He goes on to say:

"Lesser teams such as the Mets and Nationals also are interested in DeRosa, according to major-league sources. But, like so many free agents, his first choice is to play for a contender."

Excuse me Mr. Rosenthal, but would you care to explain how the Mets are not even contenders now?  Sure there are question marks.  But they were legitmate World Series contenders from 2006-2008, and one injury plagued season doesn't change that.  The notion that players wouldn't come play for the Mets because they can't contend is absurd.

As a Mets fan I'm not even that interested in signing DeRosa.  But I'm growing tired of the Mets being used as a punchline in the mainstream media.  Last year was a disaster, but this remains a very talented team.  I used to have a great deal of respect for Rosenthal, but that pretty much evaporated when I read this column.

From Ted Berg...

"If Rex Ryan wanted Mark Sanchez to hurt himself on a head-first nosedive, he'd have brought in someone from the Mets."

Well played Ted.  If you don't already follow him on Twitter I suggest you do it now.  The guy is hilarious.

According to Jon Heyman, "the Mets are not heavily involved in free-agent RHP John Lackey".  As far as I'm concerned, this is good news.  I wouldn't mind seeing Lackey in a Mets uniform, but I just don't think he commands a $100 million contract.  His value is inflated because he happens to be the best pitcher in a weak free agent class.  Lackey's best season came in 2007 when he was 19-9 with a league leading 3.01 ERA.  But he has regressed slightly over the past two years, and failed to reach 200 innings in either season.

Instead, I think the Mets should turn their focus to one of Lackey's teammates- Kelvim Escobar.  I know what you're thinking.  Why would a team decimated by the injury bug bring in a guy who has pitched only 5 innings in the last 2 years?  And that's a fair question to ask.  But Escobar was a star in the making before he fell victim to shoulder surgery.  If Escobar is healthy, he could be the #2 starter that the Mets desperately lack.  Assuming his medical records show progress, he might be a fantastic gamble.

Sticking with the theme of buy low, I'm intrigued by Brad Penny as well.  He was a complete failure in Boston, but when he returned to the national league midseason he did work.  I like Penny because he throws hard and doesn't give up homeruns.  He's been banged up over the last few years, but he's just 31 years old and has plenty of innings left.  And with a combined 5.37 ERA over the past 2 years, he should come at a decent price.

Another guy I really like is Joel Pineiro. He is only 30 years old, and coming off the best season of his career.  In 214 innings pitched, he only walked 27 batters.  That is tremendous.  It would be refreshing to root for a guy who actually throws strikes game in and game out.  Especially if he comes at a bargain.  In this market, Pineiro is one of the safest options out there.

Taking a closer look at this free agency class, it is riddled with risk.  Jason Schmidt, Ben Sheets, Justin Duchscherer, Erik Bedard. In theory, every single one of those guys could be an all-star next year.  It's just a matter of making the right choice.  And unfortunately the Mets don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to making these decisions.

[updated with thoughts from Benny B & Mike below]

According to a recent tweet by Jon Heyman, the Phillies are expected to finalize a 3 year, $18 Million contract with Placido Polanco today.  As much as I hate the Phillies, I really have to admire the way they've handled business the last 2 seasons.  The combined efforts of Pat Gillick and Ruben Amaro Jr. helped transform a team that finished 12 games back in 2006, into a true champion, and possible perrenial powerhouse.  They did almost everything right.  The free agents they brought in (Pedro Feliz and Raul Ibanez) exceeded all expectations.  The players they let go (Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell) underachieved tremendously with their new teams.  They swung two of the better trades in the last decade by acquiring Brad Lidge and Cliff Lee for essentially nothing.  And they showed confidence and patience with their home grown players which has paid dividends.

That being said, I can't help but feel that the Phillies are heading in the wrong direction in 2010.  Enormous salary increases to their "core" has worn the budget thin.  And with huge question marks surrounding every pitcher not named Cliff Lee, Ruben Amaro Jr. has his work cut out for him.  In my opinion, the Phillies have already made one glaring mistake this offseason.

I absolutely hate the Polanco signing.  He has great value as a second baseman, but he simply doesn't have the bat to play third.  He is one dimensional singles hitter with little speed and above average defense.  Polanco registered an OPS of .727 in 2009, which would rank sixth lowest among third baseman.  His homerun total (10) ranks third lowest, sadly tied with David Wright.  You can make the argument that Polanco will be a better fit to a Phillies lineup that already has its fair share of power hitters.  And when you put his numbers side by side with Pedro Feliz, it appears to be a push.  But Pedro Feliz is a gold glove caliber third baseman.  Polanco is no slouch with the glove, but he is a true second baseman.  And you can't look past the fact that Feliz was a member of the 2008 championship team.  It's also hard to overlook the fact that better free agent third baseman are on the market.  As far as I'm concerned, this is a big mistake.  The Phillies do have a fantastic track record when it comes to making moves like this one, but I feel like they are moving in the wrong direction this time.

Added by Benny B.:

Couldn't agree more Matt. I actually was just about to do a post saying as much, but you already did the heavy lifting.

The Ibanez signing looked like the best deal since the Yankees acquired Babe Ruth. He was absolutely unstoppable pre-allstar break and was on pace to hit like 80 home runs. Then what happened? His production & power fell off a cliff and wound up hitting .270+ with 34 home runs and is now recovering from off-season surgery. I said it once and will say it again: Phillly will ultimately regret the Ibanez singing, and they will ultimately regret this one as well.

My prediction for 2010: Look for both Ibanez & Polanco to have extended stays on the disabled list.  It's your turn for a taste of the injury bug Philly; a prospect made more likely by taking a page out of the book of Omar and giving aging stars in their mid-late 30's multi-year deals.  I mean you guys also just signed Brian Schneider for 2 years!?  Yea he will be the backup, but you better pray that Ruiz remains healthy, or you will see just how "proven" Schneider's bat is.  A lineup without Ruiz, Ibanez & Polanco is going to be much easier to navigate.  Schneider was also dubbed a defensive specialist that works well with pitchers, however I can't remember another Mets catcher that allowed so many passed balls or if he ever threw out a base stealer.  Good luck with that one.

Regardless, this bodes well for the Mets.  They won't have to take as many steps forward this year if the Phillies keep taking steps backward.

Added by Mike:

I like the Mets side of this signing, but I'm not with you guys on the argument.  I am not excited, per se, about the Polanco signing, however I do think it's a good signing even slightly above value.  Yes, Polanco does produce the power needed from a thirdbasemen in today's MLB, but having a 2B who vastly outhits the average second basemen (especially on the power end) you can afford a light hitting third basemen.  Also, Polanco fills a void that the previous Phillies rosters lacked: a guy who gets on base in the bottom half of the order.  It may seem futile to have somebody get on base for Ruiz and the pitcher, but it is much better than the 7-8-9 three-up-three-down parties that we had last season.

Would I have preferred DeRosa? Yes -- he's a Penn guy and a good player.  Would I have preferred a smaller contract?  Absolutely.  However, the Phillies have showed a willingness to go out and get the guys they want and that is something that I admire from this organization.

The Hot Stove still hasn't quite heated up yet, but it appears that Omar Minaya is ready to preheat the oven.  In the past few days, the Mets have come to terms with veterans Alex Cora and Chris Coste. First of all, let me just say that contract values aside, I'm happy to have both guys aboard.  Both players are solid bats off the bench, capable of filling roles that every team needs.  Cora is supposedly a strong clubhouse influence, and I will always have respect for the 33 year old rookie.  Even if he was, and always will be a Phillie.

That being said, I can't help but take issue with the Cora signing, especially at the reported $2 Million contract value.  Think about it.  You're investing $2 million in a guy who you hope and pray doesn't have to start games in 2010.  That's a lot of money to pay for a veteran bat off the bench.  Especially if you're serious about making a run at Matt Holliday. This contract won't handcuff the Mets, but in a competitive economy every dollar counts.

For what it's worth, Fan Graphs valued Alex Cora's 2009 production at -$100,000.  I don't really buy into that analysis, especially considering the fact that he was forced into the lineup and battled injuries all year.  But $2 Million?  This is such a typical Mets signing.  It's potentially not that big of deal, but if it costs the Mets a shot at Holliday it could cause Omar to lose his job.

As far as Chris Coste, we don't really have to worry about money because he was only offered a minor league contract.  I'm sure plenty of Mets fans will be irked by Coste's recent comments, but I really have no problem with that.  That's just him speaking the truth, as he has been known to do.  He struggled with the bat last year, and most catchers don't play late into their 30's, but you might as well add competition to a position that wears thin on the depth chart.  If it becomes obvious that Coste is done, he won't even be on the opening day roster.

While chatting with the bartender last night, I asked who he wants to see brought in this offseason -- his response was Garrett Atkins.  Garrett Atkins should be a player that Phillies fans are at least vaguely familiar with because of our recent playoff battles with the Rockies.  Then again, Garrett Atkins hasn't only hit a collective .231 in the '07 NLDS & '09 NLDS combined.  Also, Garrett Atkins sucked last season.  I don't like to generalize a season with such a short, crude word, but in Atkins' case it holds true.  Atkins hit .226 with only 9 homers and 48 RBIs.  His OPS+ was 66 -- the league average is 100.  Yeah, Garrett had a rough go of it and was eventually replaced by Ian Stewart full time down the stretch into the playoffs.  So for those keeping track at home, this is the second day in a row that we're talking about potentially bringing in a guy with a poor or nonexistent 2009 campaign.  The main positive for Atkins is his price tag which has to be low, low, low at this point, but what else does he bring to the table?

In 2005, Atkins came on the scene and put together a solid season, finishing fourth in the rookie of the year voting.  2006 was Atkins' official breakout season (.329 with 29/120) and he appeared to be on of the better hitting third basemen around.  Since then, Atkins' production has consistently slide downward little by little ('07 was great, but '08 was more average) until he fell off completely in 2009.  Atkins hit 60 points and about 10 homers less than most projections had for him.  Hence the "buy low" tag he currently has.

Defensively, he's just okay.  I can't speak from any in depth studying or knowledge of his abilities, but statistically his defensive numbers (range factor & ultimate zone rating) are merely average.  He can play both corner infield spots and as an emergency second basement.

I can imagine you're not exactly on the Atkins train right now and that's understandable but let's finish up looking at exactly why he's a great option:

1. Buy low.  His price tag should be sufficiently low enough to make betting on his return worthwhile.
2. Role play.  I can't imagine he'll want to be a platooner or back-up guy, but if the Phillies can bring in a DeRosa or Polanco as well, the team can hedge its bets that one will come through.
3. Versatility. If he's brought in with a DeRosa, the combination of the two prepares you for a lot of inevitable injuries around the field.
4. Lineup.  He's right handed and this team always needs right handed bats (in the lineup and off the bench.
5. Experience. The playoff and the World Series kind.
6. Age. Still only 30.

I've talked about starting and relief pitching options this season in past posts but today we're talking about one name I missed.  Justin "The Duke" Duchscherer.  Bleacher Report talks about "The Duke" and his potential fit in Philly and I'm on board with the thought.

Duchscherer's profile is strange one, but that makes him a viable candidate.  From '03 to '07, he was a capable reliever in Oakland with some WHIPs around one.  Then in '08, Duchscherer worked as a starting pitcher putting together a great season over 22 starts.  10-8 record, 2.54 ERA, .995 WHIP.

As you probably noticed, there's nothing strange about that.  The complexity comes from the fact that he didn't throw a major league pitch in 2009.  Duchscherer has struggled with hip and elbow issues off and on throughout his career and had surgery for both injuries in early '09.  Then despite returning to health, he didn't return to the mound.  A battle with anxiety and depression sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

So yes, I'm on board with the signing of an injury-prone depressed guy who hasn't pitched in a year.  That is part of the reason he's a good option, he'll be cheap and with that, low risk.  Other points in favor of "The Duke's" are the fact that he's righty and he'd be coming from the AL to the NL, always good.

Where Ruben stands in this matter, I can't say, but should he target Justin I think the team will benefit from it greatly.

Word on the street is that Roy Halladay has officially told the Blue Jays that he won't be resigning with the team after the season.  What affect does this have on the likelihood of him getting traded this offseason?  Some, but not a ton.  The Blue Jays had to know that they weren't going to resign him, so this just solidifies their previous beliefs.  The Jays new GM is granting a negotiating window for an extension to all interested teams, which should increase his value.  The required package from the Phillies will most likely including J.A. Happ and Dominic Brown/Michael Taylor at the least.  Is that too much to give up?  I don't think so, not for Doc Halladay who's one of the premier pitchers in the game and definitely the best available.

However, there's always the chance that we're outbid and/or the asking price is astronomical (cough, J.P. Ricciardi, cough).  So, if not Roy, then who?  Option one is Edwin Jackson from Detroit.  Jackson had a great season this year and showed a lot of the promise that the Rays never saw from their former sixth round draft pick.  He would definitely be cheaper, but then again he's not nearly as good as the Doc.

Another guy, albeit a long shot, is Roy Oswalt.  He seems to be a fringe trade market guy every year and this could be the year he gets moved.  He would command a package similar to Halladay's and has an extra year on his deal after this one.  Roy is a certified ace and has been toiling away in Houston for a few years.  He has a full no-trade, but pitching for a title contender like Philly would have to peak his interest.

Finally, a darkhorse of my own, Gil Meche.  Gil was a marginal pitcher in Seattle until he hit free agency and he got an indefensible $48 million from the Royals.  Then something funny happened, and he was actually a pretty good pitcher for them.  Meche never set the league on fire, but he was consistent and productive.  With a move to the NL, Meche could be a solid, yet unspectactular number three guy in the rotation.

Fitted Phillies hats with the 2009 World Series patch are on clearance racks everywhere right now and understandably so, we're fresh off the series loss.  People aren't flocking to the stores for Phillies World Series merchandise.  Why not?

I can understand why you wouldn't want a t-shirt or hoody or matching coffee mugs (?), but the fitted hats are a completely logical purchase.  The hat contains only a small patch on the side, otherwise they're exactly the same as the normal game model that sells for upwards of $35.  Now?  $10.  Ten bucks for a game quality New Era Phillies hat.  Count me in.

More importantly, why would you be ashamed to wear that hat?  Sure, we lost, but it was a second World Series appearance in as many years and we went toe to toe with Yankees.  For 60% off I'll settle for that patch on my hat any day of the week.

The Mets finished 23 games out of first place, and yet, there is a lot to get excited about.  I'm not going to go all Jimmy Rollins and declare the Mets the team to beat, but I'm optimistic.  Here are five reasons why:

1.  Jeff Francoeur- A rare bright spot from last year, the acquistion of of Francoeur might go down as the best trade Omar ever made.  In 75 games with the Mets, he hit .311 with 10 HRs.  You could make a strong case that he was the best hitter on the team last year.  But above all, he brought a certain swagger that this clubhouse depserately lacks.  His stats are especially impressive considering that he tore a ligament in his thumb in August, and played through it.  Francoeur is exciting to watch, and the type of guy you really want to root for.  And he's just 25.

The question is whether he can build off of last season.  He cut down on his strikeouts (92), but he tied a career low in walks (23).  He has a ton of raw power, and with better protection next season Francoeur could be an all-star.  And let's not forget his cannon of an arm.

2.  Health- I feel like I am severely beating a dead horse here.  Obviously, getting the stars healthy will be a huge boost to not only the team, but the fans as well.  Above all, I really miss watching Jose Reyes play.  I think last year proved that as Reyes goes, so do the Mets.  The same can be said about Carlos Beltran, and its no coincidence that the Mets really went downhill as soon as Beltran went down.

3.  Omar is on the Hot Seat- I still remain a loyal Omar supporter, and there aren't many.  Say what you want about him, but look at all of the talent he has brought to NY.  The job of the GM is to make the team competitive.  And when healthy, they have been.  It's hard to blame him for late season collapses.

But him being on the hot seat is an absolute great thing.  Even if he doesn't have the money to spend, he is fully capable of swinging a major trade.  I can almost guarentee that a big time talent will land with the Mets this offseason.  Just watch.

4.  The Farm System- The Mets typically overrate their prospects, but there is a lot to get excited about.  Omar did a good thing by holding onto prospects at the deadline.  I'm no prospects guru, but I think this system is extremely underrated.  Ike Davis should definitely contribute in 2010, and he's the guy I'm most excited about. Jenrry Mejia could use another year of development, but his fastball sits mid 90s and he's only 20 years old.  Josh Thole isn't a mega-prospect, but he can flat out rake, and he might be the Mets everyday catcher by seasons end.  Brad Holt struggled once he reached AA last year, but he's right up there with Mejia, and he should make his MLB debut in 2010.  And let's not forget about Fernando Martinez.  He clearly wasn't ready last year, but the sky is the limit.  17 year old Wilmer Flores started in the futures game last year and looked impressive.  People love to rag on the Mets prospects, but this group is as strong as we've had in a while.

5.  David Wright- One of the most discouraging parts of 2009 was watching Wright struggle.  I hate to make excuses for him, but there had to be something wrong with his health.  Of course, its very possible that his struggles were all mental. But I fully expect him to work his ass off all season, and come back to being the elite player we all know he is.  And getting his supporting cast back will go a long way.  Not only will he have adequate protection, but it will take some of the pressure off him.