Mets Positional Future - RP

Mets Positional Future: - RP

Current:

Billy Wagner - 2009 contract: $10.5mil – will spend the entire year on the IR recovering from TJS.

Scott Schoeneweis - 2009 contract: $3.6mil - word is he has asked to be traded, but we’ll see.

Players like Joe Smith and Aaron Heilman may be back, as well as Pedro Feliciano and Brandon Knight; however, I look for a complete overhaul here which will include Eddie Kunz from the pipeline and many new names from other teams.


Pipeline

Eddie Kunz – 23-yrs old - 27 saves/Bing - Kunz had a miserable debut as a Met, which did knock him down a couple of positions here, but still doesn’t remove him as a top prospect.

Roy Merritt – 23-yrs old - 2008: 0.92 whip 25 Gs/Clones –

Michael Powers – 23 yrs old - In his debut year, Powers pitched for Kingsport and Savannah, combining for: 2-2, 2.88, in 18 relief appearances. He’s a big kid (6-3) from a big school (Michigan), who should be fast tracked in 2009.

Jimmy Johnson - 2008: 0.86 whip/23 Gs/Clones –

James Fuller - 21-yrs old - 2008: 1.00, 1.11/Clones – this is another of those young pitchers that you need to see another year from before bragging about him.

Junior Guerra – 24-yrs old - 2008: 2.12 ERA, 18 Gm – Gnats/King/Clones/Lucy

Samuel Taverss – 20-yrs old – coming stateside after posting DSL numbers of 4-2, 0.90, 0.90, in 23 appearances, 12 saves.


Draft Needs:

The Mets will continue to draft quality relievers in the earlier rounds, something they began targeting in 2007. As you can see, the pipeline is alive and well with good young arms; however, only Eddie Kunz will be ready in 2009 to play in Queens. Look for Michael Powers and Junior Guerra to be fast tracked, due to their age.

Trade/Free Agent Needs:

It’s no big secret that the Mets will acquire a new closer in the off-season. Hopefully, this can be accomplished through FA, so the pipeline surplus in SPs can be packaged for and outfielder or an SP4 ready to step up in April.