JERRY Manuel mulled his lineup card last Sunday; the most important game for his team, his most important game as a manager.
Finally – reluctantly – he wrote in Nick Evans hitting fifth and Ramon Martinez hitting sixth. It was hardly ideal with a season and, perhaps, his own job on the line. But on the final day of the regular season, that lineup card expressed a huge Mets problem in 2008.
They had beautiful resources atop the roster, especially atop the lineup with Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and David Wright. Over 162 games, however, the cast of characters must be deep and diverse. And the presence of Evans and Martinez in such critical positions in such a vital game underscored a major failing of Omar Minaya’s regime.
Armed with the Wilpons’ money, Minaya has been proven a wonderful big-game hunter. He likes stars and – to some extent – his passion for elite players has helped the Mets shuck their insecurity complex in pursuing the best, brightest and most expensive. That is not an unimportant matter when you share a city with the Yankees.
But while dining at the top of the food chain, Minaya too often has neglected the whole roster. So that when, for example, a pricey commodity such as Billy Wagner was hurt, the Mets were forced to bottom feed at a dire time. Hence Luis Ayala going from a last-place team’s doghouse to Mets closer in three easy lessons, or Ricardo Rincon jumping from Mexican League to important outs.
From 1-through-10, the Mets roster was star-studded. But it fell off the cliff not just from 11-to-25, but through the 40-man roster. It was stunning how many players the Mets ran off and on their 40-man roster late in the year, symbolic of a shallow talent pool. Part of the collapses the past two years is attributable to not having enough qualified arms and legs to endure the full battle.
Now Minaya is back to try again, with the official announcement yesterday of his extension through 2012. Of course, he should still pursue stars. This space advocated a few days back that the Mets chase CC Sabathia. But Minaya must also do better at populating his entire roster with quality.
I have heard that issue was a significant theme at the initial offseason meetings among the top brass. And Minaya already might be influenced. Immediately after the season, he said he was disinclined to trade a core positional player. In a conference call yesterday, however, he left that door slightly ajar.
“We owe it to ourselves to look at all areas at how we can make our team better,” Minaya said. “We have to be open-minded and think about all areas that make our team better, and by team I mean the unit of 25 better.”
This is not about disassembling the core as punishment for the past two years. If Reyes, Beltran, Delgado and Wright returned en masse, the Mets would have four top players again. But the Mets must investigate if they can use one (or more) of the quartet to, perhaps, get a little worse at the top of the roster but better overall.
Two years ago, for example, the Yankees picked up Gary Sheffield’s $13 million option and traded him for three prospects. Minaya said yesterday the Mets would pick up Delgado’s $12 million 2009 option. That does not preclude them from trading him to a first base/DH-hungry club to deepen the talent pool, putting Daniel Murphy at first and signing a defensive caddy such as Doug Mientkiewicz.
As for Reyes, Beltran and Wright, the Mets should follow these rules: a) Ask exorbitant returns because they are totally fine with retaining these stars if the request is not met; b) Address multiple needs with any trade; c) Obtain only players many years from free agency.
For example, would the Angels take Reyes for Joe Saunders (a high-level starter), Jose Arredondo (a long-term closer candidate) and Erick Aybar (a shortstop replacement)?
It is the kind of multiple-player package for one star that Minaya has demonstrated most comfortable making. Now he must consider such deals. That would show an understanding of the need for a longer roster from the man with the new long-term contract.