The Mets intend to present what they consider to be suitable offers to closer targets during the winter meetings. It's not known precisely what they will offer to which pitcher, but here is an educated guess: Francisco Rodriguez, three years and $36 million; Brian Fuentes, three years and $30 million; Kerry Wood, two years and $16 million to $18 million.
The Mets are really sitting in a strong position, as perhaps the only big-market team intent on spending good money on a reliever, and their intention is to present the offers with this marching order: The first reliever who accepts our offer is going to be our closer.
And the two relievers who don't sign with the Mets will be left to negotiate with the rest of the field. Now, it may be that Milwaukee will emerge as a wild card in this market and offer one of the relievers a pretty good deal; remember, the Brewers were once willing to give Francisco Cordero a four-year deal, so it wouldn't necessarily be a shocker if they extended themselves for K-Rod, especially if it appears that they will not be able to retain CC Sabathia. But the Mets are going to land some reliever at their asking price, in what is a buyer's market for relievers.
The Mets really haven't focused on the starting pitching market at all, but they do have interest in bringing back left-hander Oliver Perez -- who is one of the better pitchers on the B-list of available starters, after Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.
The Mets still don't intend to trade Fernando Martinez, writes David Lennon. That's part of the reason it makes more sense for the Mets to sign one of the free-agent relievers than it does for them to make a trade for J.J. Putz.
