INDIANAPOLIS — The Mets intend to check in on the three top free agents — Jason Bay, Matt Holliday and John Lackey — during the Winter Meetings, with the strongest hope that Lackey’s price falls into a range to make him their No. 2 starter behind Johan Santana.
But more and more the Mets are thinking they may have to spread their approximately 25 million in available dollars around to address multiple needs rather than lure one major player, particularly if Lackey commands a contract north of A.J. Burnett’s five-year, $82.5 million deal. The Mets think Lackey is less of a physical risk than many other organizations do, and they expect that his stuff would be even better in the NL. However, they would be hesitant to go beyond a four-year package for the righty.
That is why the Mets are looking at other options, including Royals starter Gil Meche. Omar Minaya and Royals GM Dayton Moore spoke several times before these meetings, and plan to expand on talks here. The Mets had no interest in a Luis Castillo-Jose Guillen trade with the Royals.
But they would consider Meche, who has two years at $24 million left on his contract at a time when the Royals are looking to trim payroll. The Mets might explore the possibility of moving Castillo as part of a Meche deal, possibly by taking another bad contract, such as those belonging to relievers Kyle Farnsworth ($4.25 million) or Juan Cruz ($3.75 million).
What worries the Mets with Meche, 31, is the volatility of his performance at a time when they have so much unpredictability in their rotation with the erratic John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez. They would like more certainty, but know the free agents that entice them — Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Jason Marquis, Joel Pineiro and Randy Wolf — lack either top-of-the-rotation excellence, unquestioned durability or both.
One way Mets management believes they could get better performance from that rotation is by adding a catcher with a reputation for guiding staffs. That is why they brought in Henry Blanco as a backup. And it is why Bengie Molina tops their catching wish list because he not only has power but his rep with the Angels and Giants was as a steadying force for pitchers.