Mack Stuff – Justin Upton, Jason Botts, Edwin Jackson, Carl Pavano

NYP - Alderson needs to try to acquire Upton. Go for another game changer. The Mets have made fascinating strides lately. They need to make another big push to reach higher ground in the NL East.

-          I have a lot of respect for Kevin Kiernan but I don’t think he thought this one out. Trading for a star like Upton takes more than absorbing his contract ($9.75 million in 2013, $14.25 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015). Frankly, the “new” Mets can afford that. They have enough left in 2013 and 2014 and beyond is wide open.

Your “future” nucleus includes David Wright, Travis d’Arnaud, Zack Wheeler, and Matt Harvey. For me, everyone else is still on the table.

A player of this caliber is going to have to produce two players as well as taking on 100% of the salary. The Mets don’t have the kind of player depth to pull this off unless Arizona needs to fill a void. So far this off-season, they hav  strengthened the team's bullpen, added an upper-tier starting pitcher, solidified the bench and, improved at shortstop. They don’t need a second or first baseman, so Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy, and Ruben Tejada isn’t an option.

I don’t see how you pull this off.

I’m going to keep bringing this name up…  OF Jason Botts hit a 2-run home run for Los Mochis in the Mexican Pacific League. Botts is now up to .328… this was his 15^th home run this off-season in 204-AB… he also hit .336 last season in the Mexican League. He’s a switch hitter. He’s an ex-Met. He’s 32-years old. And, he’s without a team.

Cubs sign RHP Edwin Jackson to 4-year, $52 million deal

                                

                                He was the top pitcher still out there in the free agent market and nowhere near the level that the Mets might be looking to add an SP5. It’s simply amazing what you have to pay fifty million dollars for these days. A career 4.40 ERA, a 6.9 career K/9, and traded six times in his first nine professional years.

Ken Davidoff‏ - @KenDavidoff -  The #Mets have reached out to the reps of free agents LHP Francisco Liriano and RHP Carl Pavano

                -We talked about Liriano a few posts ago. Pavano is an alternative. He started 11 games for Minnesota last year (2-5, 6.00), throwing 63.0 innings. His best years are far behind him, including 2010 (Minny – 17-11, 3.75). Still, he’s a control pitcher that’s been around (37-yrs. old) and could hold the fort down until Zack Wheeler is ready. Just finished a 2-year, $16.5mil contract he doesn’t stand a chance of getting near. He probably would be available for around $3mil for one year.