Now comes the tough part for the Mets — 2015.
A season with real expectations. Their scholarship runs out in 31 games. They face a season in which holes must be plugged, starting at shortstop.
There will be shortstops available on the free-agent market such as veteran J.J. Hardy.
Will the Wilpons step up and make a significant buy while also taking care of their left-field problem? Hello Melky Cabrera, another free agent.
Or will the Mets have to trade super-talented young pitching for Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro, filling one hole and paying out about $60 million but possibly creating another major problem by subtracting from the team’s strength and the ultimate plan of success through pitching depth.
Would they deal for Cubs’ super prospect Addison Russell, a trade that would cost them Zack Wheeler? I wouldn’t trade Wheeler.
The Mets come home from the West Coast on Tuesday night to face the Braves at Citi Field. It’s déjà vu all over again. They are 61-70, in fourth place, making this six straight seasons of nowhere. Over the last six seasons, they have finished an average of 21 games out of first place.
David Wright is having an awful second half and should shut it down and begin working to get healthy for 2015.
There is a brighter future ahead with the major league development of such players as Lucas Duda and Travis d’Arnaud, answering two big questions at first base and catcher, but after a six-pack of losing seasons, something has to give.
Shortstop remains the Lost Position.
It has been a major issue since the day the Mets let Jose Reyes walk away. The Yankees will be looking for a shortstop as well so competition will be stiff.
“There are just not enough good shortstops to go around,’’ one NL talent evaluator told The Post Monday. “They are not easy to come by and that is going to make it so much harder for the Mets.’’
The Mets have no shortstop answers in their system.
Ruben Tejada is best suited as a backup. Perhaps you could get away with him at short for a good hitting ballclub. Wilmer Flores is not a shortstop.
With Manny Machado’s knee issues, the Orioles may decide to re-sign Hardy, 32, making it that much more difficult for the Mets.
“I like Hardy,’’ one scout said. “I don’t like the number of years you are going to have to give him.’’
Hardy is hitting .282 and has 125 hits and 47 runs scored. Tejada is hitting .230 with 70 hits and 28 runs.
Two other free-agent shortstops are Jed Lowrie and Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez would be a dangerous signing because clearly his best days are behind him at shortstop and he has the potential to be a disruptive force. That is not the type of personality — see Wright and Curtis Granderson — the Mets seem to covet. Scouts use the word “shaky’’ when talking about Ramirez.
At this point, Ramirez is not on the Mets’ radar.
This is not going to be an easy solution for the Mets.
Castro, who is only 24, is extremely talented and has shown signs of maturing. He is hitting .284 this season with 141 hits, 53 runs and 64 RBIs. He is owed about $60 million, which takes him through 2020 so even if the Mets are able to trade for him, the Wilpons would have to make a financial commitment as well as giving up young pitching. Russell is an easier financial fit.
The Mets cannot go through another season with shortstop being a question mark.
They have to get creative. It’s too valuable a position — especially when you are counting on pitching to take you so far.
Infield defense has to be strong and nowhere is as important as shortstop, no matter how many shifts you apply.
The trade route might open up a younger shortstop as well, someone such as Arizona’s Chris Owings or Didi Gregorious, but that is a big step down from the Cubs’ shortstops.
Shortstop can’t be neglected again.