Kuzul

We’ve all heard the reports that say the Mets only have $5 million to spend this offseason. I don’t know who said it or their source, but it does make sense since the team has over $130 million committed to its current club.

Regardless of the actual figure, there’s no doubt that the Mets are cash-strapped.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I wouldn’t mind seeing the Mets go through a major rebuilding phase during 2011 if it meant that they would put a consistently competitive team on the field for a while after that.

Look at a team like the Tampa Bay Rays. A full decade of beyond mediocrity has paid off with two division titles and a World Series appearance. The difference between the Mets and the Rays is that the Rays were so bad that they were able to cash in with high draft picks like David Price, B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria.

If you look at the team, there are holes in the starting rotation, bullpen and arguably second base.

The team needs to make a decision moving forward: can they acquire some major pieces with the budget they have or will they be content trying to develop some young talent this season?

They may bring in a veteran starter such as Chris Young or Jeff Francis and maybe even a bullpen arm like a D.J. Carrasco or Lance Cormier.

This would be fine for the short term in hopes that these reclamation projects can bring the Mets back to relevance.

Here’s what we hope might happen.

The Mets may sign a pitcher or two and fill out their roster with some journeymen. They should try to stay afloat until Santana returns, and hopefully he will give the team a shot in the arm. If the team feels it has what it takes, it could look to acquire a front line starting pitcher or big bat for the postseason run.

But the Mets can look at it another way.

The could play out the first two-three months and see where they stand at the All-Star break. If the season is basically a lost cause, they should promote some of their prospects and give these guys some big league experience.

I would much rather see guys like Wilmer Flores, Matt Harvey, Ruben Tejada and Jenrry Mejia learn through their mistakes then guys like Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez struggle, knowing that the latter two have no chance of providing for the future of this team.

If things click early in the season, the young guys may not have a shot. I am an optimist, and if the Mets can get off to a quick start, that’s great. However, they need to be ready to face the facts if things don’t work out.

Five million will not be enough this offseason to acquire all the pieces the Mets need right away. But developing some young talent now could allow the team to either acquire proven talent via trade or will fill some of the roster holes of the next few seasons.

Naturally as a fan, you always want to see your team win. But when you understand that winning consistently takes the proper combination of many different pieces, you realize that when you don’t have the pieces, winning is difficult.

Someday (hopefully soon) when the Mets do win a World Series, we will look back and say that the years of rebuilding were well worth it. I just hope that comes in my lifetime.

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We’ve all heard the reports that say the Mets only have $5 million to spend this offseason. I don’t know who said it or their source, but it does make sense since the team has over $130 million committed to its current club.

Regardless of the actual figure, there’s no doubt that the Mets are cash-strapped.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I wouldn’t mind seeing the Mets go through a major rebuilding phase during 2011 if it meant that they would put a consistently competitive team on the field for a while after that.

Look at a team like the Tampa Bay Rays. A full decade of beyond mediocrity has paid off with two division titles and a World Series appearance. The difference between the Mets and the Rays is that the Rays were so bad that they were able to cash in with high draft picks like David Price, B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria.

If you look at the team, there are holes in the starting rotation, bullpen and arguably second base.

The team needs to make a decision moving forward: can they acquire some major pieces with the budget they have or will they be content trying to develop some young talent this season?

They may bring in a veteran starter such as Chris Young or Jeff Francis and maybe even a bullpen arm like a D.J. Carrasco or Lance Cormier.

This would be fine for the short term in hopes that these reclamation projects can bring the Mets back to relevance.

Here’s what we hope might happen.

The Mets may sign a pitcher or two and fill out their roster with some journeymen. They should try to stay afloat until Santana returns, and hopefully he will give the team a shot in the arm. If the team feels it has what it takes, it could look to acquire a front line starting pitcher or big bat for the postseason run.

But the Mets can look at it another way.

The could play out the first two-three months and see where they stand at the All-Star break. If the season is basically a lost cause, they should promote some of their prospects and give these guys some big league experience.

I would much rather see guys like Wilmer Flores, Matt Harvey, Ruben Tejada and Jenrry Mejia learn through their mistakes then guys like Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez struggle, knowing that the latter two have no chance of providing for the future of this team.

If things click early in the season, the young guys may not have a shot. I am an optimist, and if the Mets can get off to a quick start, that’s great. However, they need to be ready to face the facts if things don’t work out.

Five million will not be enough this offseason to acquire all the pieces the Mets need right away. But developing some young talent now could allow the team to either acquire proven talent via trade or will fill some of the roster holes of the next few seasons.

Naturally as a fan, you always want to see your team win. But when you understand that winning consistently takes the proper combination of many different pieces, you realize that when you don’t have the pieces, winning is difficult.

Someday (hopefully soon) when the Mets do win a World Series, we will look back and say that the years of rebuilding were well worth it. I just hope that comes in my lifetime.

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While the Mets starting rotation will likely contain several question marks, the bullpen appears to be a revolving door at this point. Two vital pieces from 2010 are likely out, with Hisanori Takahashi heading out west and Pedro Feliciano testing the free agent market.

Following the non-tender deadline, many serviceable bullpen arms will become available. Some of these candidates may come on the cheaper side and on short term deals, both aspects the Mets would be looking for.

So here are some internal and external candidates likely to make up the Mets 2011 bullpen.

Despite his issues, K-Rod will likely remain the team’s closer. He is entering the final year of his contract, so he will look to have a big year and put his past behind him. Though he sometimes makes it interesting in the ninth, he still has a little something left in the tank.

Bobby Parnell is another internal candidate who should factor into the bullpen. He has the stuff to be a closer, and this year he could finally develop the confidence to be a consistent late game stopper. He will compete for the eighth inning role this spring.

With Takahashi and Feliciano likely out (though there appears to be a slim chance the Mets can retain Pedro), they are going to need a lefty specialist to deal with the likes of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jason Heyward.

Pat Misch may see some action as a long reliever/swing man. He had some tough luck late last season and actually pitched quite well. Mike O’Connor, who the Mets just re-signed to a minor league contract, could play the role of lefty specialist. He put up great numbers in Buffalo last year, and a strong spring could solidify his roster spot.

Manny Acosta and Sean Green are some other internal options. Green is awaiting the Mets decision to tender him a contract. They’ll likely sign him but then make it clear to him that he needs to earn a spot during spring training. Acosta is a nice insurance policy, but there are better options.

Ryota Igarashi is still on the roster as well. He had some rough moments last year but might be one of the only viable options.

Finally internally, the thought of Oliver Perez as the lefty specialist is sickening.

After tonight’s deadline, we will know the complete list of non-tenders. As for now, there are some intriguing candidates.

Alfredo Aceves, Matt Albers, Blaine Boyer, Todd Coffey, Bobby Jenks, Hideki Okajima, Jose Veras, Lance Cormier and Zach Miner have already been non-tendered.

George Sherrill, Sean Burnett, Santiago Casilla and Rafael Perez are all non-tender candidates facing tonight’s deadline.

Of these options, Jenks is very appealing and could serve as a set-up man and closer insurance. However, there will probably be a team willing to give Jenks an opportunity at closing. With K-Rod under contract, the Mets could not guarantee that to Jenks.

Sherill and Okajima are only a few seasons removed from dominant performances as lefty relievers. They seemed to have both fallen out of favor with their respected organizations and could benefit the Mets. I’m unsure of what the price tag would be for either of them, but for one year it could be worth it.

None of these other candidates are “can’t miss” options. But the thing about relief pitchers is that anyone can have a breakout season any given year. That’s why teams are reluctant to give long contracts to relievers. One year they can be great and the next they can flop. It could be beneficial to roll the dice with Albers or Cormier.

Assuming the Mets have cash to add some new faces, here is who I’d like to see in 2011 bullpen. Usually, NL teams carry seven relievers.

K-Rod (closer), Parnell (set-up), Cormier (middle), Okajima (lefty), Igarashi (middle), Misch (long) and an open spring training competition between Acosta, Green and O’Connor.

This bullpen could be just good enough to open some eyes. Then again, it involves some big question marks.

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On December 29, 2009, the Mets and free agent outfielder Jason Bay agreed to a four-year, $66 million deal with a fifth year vesting option that could bring the deal over the $80 million plateau.

He was coming off an All-Star year in Boston, and even won a Silver Slugger award. He finally earned the contract he deserved after some great years being buried in Pittsburgh.

If someone who did not watch Bay all year looked at his 2010 stats compared to those of the rest of his career, they may think that the Mets wasted a ton of money on a washed-up player.

I would have to disagree here, considering Bay was limited to only 95 games after suffering a concussion in late July.

Bay didn’t necessarily get off to a great start in New York. However, from mid-May to mid-June, he was a productive player, keeping his batting average in the .285 range. Surprisingly, Bay showed he still had good speed by blasting six triples and swiping 10 bases without being caught.

He played an excellent left field defense, which eventually cost him the remainder of the season after making a fantastic grab up against the wall in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

The problem with Bay all year is that he failed to do the things he was brought over here to do: hit home runs and more importantly, drive in runs.

Even in just 95 games, he still only managed six home runs. Here’s a guy who averages 30 HR per 162 games, and only hit six after signing a huge offseason contract.

Granted, Citi Field is not the ideal home run hitter’s ballpark. So, home runs aside, Bay still struggled with driving in runs. He only drove in 47 runs in his shortened season, far lower than what the Mets expected when they signed him.

Bay was successful at the one thing the Mets knew they were going to get when they signed him, and that’s strikeouts. Usually when a player’s power increases, strikeouts tend to increase as well. Not the case for Bay. He still recorded 91 strikeouts in 95 games.

But injuries happen to all ballplayers, especially when they play for the Mets.

In my mind, Bay has somewhat of a clean slate in 2011. He struggled mightily in his first year of the contract, but he has possibly four more years to make up for it. You can tell that he is a competitive guy, and this year’s struggles did not sit well with him.

He will be poised for a big year for the Mets. He might not hit 30 HR, and he will probably still strike out 150 times. But hopefully he can be a clutch force in the middle of the Mets lineup and drive in over 100 runs, which he has done four other times in his career.

Depending on the Mets’ offseason activity, Bay would fit well in the sixth spot in the Mets order. Wright, Beltran, Davis and Bay in that order (and if all healthy) could create havoc for National League pitching staffs throughout the season.

Last year, there was a ton of pressure on Bay early in the season to carry the team. I mean, when Mike Jacobs and Gary Matthews, Jr. are in the Opening Day starting lineup, of course there’s going to be pressure on guys like Bay and Wright to produce.

But on a healthy team, and despite his massive salary, Bay would fit nicely as a role player on the Mets. In fact, if everyone on the team does their own job, the Mets may surprise some nonbelievers.

Your time has come, J-Bay. Do what you were brought here to do.

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Though the “decision” did not have as much hype as that of LeBron James’ over the summer, it’s official: Terry Collins is the 20th manager in New York Mets team history.

As a fan, I find myself cautiously optimistic about this hiring. To be honest, I had no true preference among the four candidates for manager. Each one brought interesting qualifications to the table, but also had some drawbacks.

Then again, at least for me, I am cautiously optimistic heading into every season. But for some reason, 2011 seems different.

Unlike years past, it seems that the Mets have some direction. Their front office can be placed in the conversation of one of the best in the game, at least based on reputation. And now they have an experienced manager taking the helm.

Regardless of the decision, it will be nice to see some new faces around the clubhouse. Personally, I liked Jerry Manuel as a baseball mind. But his methods just didn’t cut it in New York. Granted, he was dealt a poor hand with the amount of devastating injuries this team suffered during his tenure. But he eventually lost the respect of the team.

So now we have Collins, a man who managed the Houston Astros and Anaheim Angels as well as the Chinese national team during the 2009 World Baseball Classic. The experience is there, but hopefully the results will be different.

According to reports, Collins had his share of mishaps as a manager. One player in Houston almost got into a fist fight with him, and the Angels, led by former Met Mo Vaughn, signed a petition to have him fired.

Now, these instances might be, and probably are, true, but they also could have been blown way out of proportion due to the hotly contested race for Mets manager.

I don’t know. But I do know that Collins is now the manager, and I’m excited for his tenure to begin.

He is described as fiery and intense, which is something the Mets could use. Maybe we will see Reyes stay more focused or Beltran show a little more fire. Maybe we’ll see Wright be more disciplined and even K-Rod get his act together.

All these and more lie on the plate for Collins. With Thanksgiving approaching, how much more room will there be on Collins’ plate for his turkey dinner?

In his press conference today, Collins said all the right things. Fans need to be patient with him as he adjusts to the New York media. Though he was in the organization last season, it by no means compares to his new job.

I wish Terry lots of luck as we embark on (hopefully) a new era of New York Metropolitans baseball.

I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving holiday!

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So it looks like the Mets will have a new manager sometime before Thanksgiving. The four candidates have completed the second round of interviews in an attempt to secure a position that will be heavily scrutinized over the next season.

Once the manager is chosen, the Mets need to switch their focus to importing some talent that could help the ball club next season and beyond.

With Sandy Alderson, J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta, the Mets have put together a sound front office.

Some time early next week, the Mets will make their managerial selection so they can check that off the list.

The off-the-field talent is there, but now it’s time for them to explore ways of turning the Mets back into a winning team.

Let’s take a look at where this team needs improvement and some possible suggestions on how to fix those problems.

With Santana’s status up in the air, the Mets could use a quality starting pitcher. I’ve already made the case for Javier Vazquez, but Matt Cerrone on MetsBlog mentioned Kevin Millwood today. Now I know what you’re thinking: Millwood is even more washed up than Vazquez.

But Citi Field can work to his advantage. He’s a fly ball pitcher who got no run support in Baltimore. Maybe a change of scenery would do him well.

Jon Garland would be another option, but his price tag may be quite hefty after putting up solid numbers last season.

Alderson may have to roll the dice on this one. Former All-Stars Brandon Webb and Ben Sheets are available, but their recent string of injuries could scare him away.

Pelfrey, Dickey and Niese right now are the only definites to the rotation (barring any trades) so at least one if not two starting pitchers are needed.

Looking at the bullpen, Pedro Feliciano may be heading out the door. He’s been our most reliable reliever the last two seasons, and his presence would be missed. Raul Valdes had spurts of greatness last year, but he doesn’t appear to be the answer to the bullpen woes.

K-Rod will likely still close if he’s eligible. That leaves Parnell, Green, Igarashi, Acosta and possibly Pat Misch. Certainly an improvement or two would not hurt here.

Guys like Scott Downs and Brian Fuentes would be good options, but the Mets must be willing to fork up the cash. Trade candidates include Jonathan Papelbon and Jonathan Broxton, but they too will cost significantly.

Around the horn, second base still seems to be one of the only “holes” in the lineup, assuming everyone else is healthy and producing. Personally, I like the idea of a platoon of Daniel Murphy and Ruben Tejada, with Tejada also serving as a late-inning defensive replacement.

Orlando Hudson is available and could provide a spark both offensively and defensively. I’m not sure, though, if the Mets would pull the trigger on this one.

The team appears to have placed its confidence in Josh Thole behind the dish. However, if they could somehow make a play for Victor Martinez, maybe Thole could become expendable in a trade for a starting pitcher. Highly unlikely but interesting to consider.

If the Mets do trade Carlos Beltran, they would have a hole in right field, with Angel Pagan shifting to center. There are some aging sluggers available on the free agent market, but the Mets should stay away there.

For the bench, the team should consider re-signing Henry Blanco, and Chris Carter has earned his spot. Other than that the Mets need a complete overhaul here, and they may just rely on some of their youngsters (Lucas Duda, Nick Evans, etc.) to fill these spots.

So it looks like the Mets still have much work to do. They will have several months to accomplish at least some of these goals. Good luck, Sandy!

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The following clip from Family Guy last Sunday pretty much sums up the last few seasons for the Mets.

While I don’t mind my favorite show poking fun at my favorite team, it makes me wonder what non-Mets fans think about our team.

Here is another example of a a Family Guy Mets bashing.

Even besides Family Guy, the Mets are constantly ridiculed as being second-class citizens in New York, and other fans question why we put ourselves through such misery.

This wasn’t always the case, naturally, as Gil Hodges brought relevance to the team in the late ’60s, and the Mets teams of the late ’80s were tops in the league.

Even during my lifetime, the late-’90s Mets weren’t too shabby.

I think the trouble started in 2006. The Mets were riding high all season. They were the talk of the town all the way up until the NLCS.

Endy Chavez made that unthinkable catch to save the game. But later, Carlos Beltran took a called strike three from Adam Wainwright, and the Cardinals went on to win the World Series.

I don’t want to dwell on that moment too much, because that happens to any ballplayer. It was just the magnitude of the situation that began a downward spiral for the team.

In 2007, the Mets were hot throughout the entire season, but the famed “collapse” has still clouded their image in the public eye.

It didn’t help either when the Mets also collapsed in 2008, but that wasn’t as bad as 2007.

The Mets had high expectations heading into 2009, but a rash of injuries and lackluster play (missing bases, dropped pop-ups) led to only 70 wins. The downward spiral continued.

But time heals all wounds, so the Mets were poised for a breakout season in 2010. Sports Illustrated even picked them to represent the NL in the World Series. Then news of Beltran’s surgery broke, Johan Santana couldn’t stop giving up grand slams, Jason Bay forgot how to hit, the team fell apart on their post All-Star game west-coast road trip and K-Rod assaulted his girlfriend’s father. Another year down the drain.

Over the past few years, it’s hard to pinpoint just one thing that has gone wrong with this team. Injuries, lack of hustle, lack of consistency. You name it, we’ve probably seen it.

So with all this talk about a new GM and a new manager, it is important that they cast a new image for the boys in Flushing.

Sandy Alderson seems to be a well-respected individual who won’t tolerate nonsense. Terry Collins, Bob Melvin or whoever is the manager must prove early on that they have gained the respect of the players in the clubhouse. It is imperative that this team gets off to a fast start if they have aspirations of being successful.

It can happen, and hopefully it will happen. It’s about time the Mets regained their rightful position as a feared entity in NY.

So no more Family Guy jokes geared towards the Mets and no more phrases like “New York Mess” or “My Entire Team Stinks.”

Let’s see our team go out and play solid fundamental baseball en route to establishing itself as an organization that commands respect.

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Oh Javier Vazquez, what happened to you? Such a promising young talent with the Montreal Expos who turned in quality starts against the Mets time after time.

You know what happened? The Yankees happened. In 2004, Vazquez went 14-10 for the Yankees so everyone proclaimed him as the next big thing. However, his 4.91 ERA was not so hot.

After a few more mediocre years with the White Sox, Vazquez finally put it all together in 2009 with Braves, finishing 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts.

So of course the Yankees go and reacquire him. And how does he repay them? By posting a 5.91 ERA.

Vazquez is a free agent this offseason. He is 34 years old as of today. I didn’t even realize he was available until one of my buddies alerted me. At first, I was unsure of what to think, but now I believe Vazquez could be a viable option for the back end of the 2011 Mets rotation.

And here is why.

Vazquez is a National League pitcher, pure and simple. He finished with double figures in wins while posting a solid ERA in four straight years for a pretty bad team in Montreal.

Then he jumped leagues and his stats began to inflate. Regardless of the one year he pitched for Arizona, Vazquez posted ERAs of higher than 4.60 in three of his four AL seasons.

Then he jumped back to the NL in 2009 and had his career season. Finally, the 2010 season with the Yankees can arguably be considered his worst season.

So why would the Mets want to bring in an overpriced, aging starting pitcher?

Well, based on his performance last year, there probably won’t be too many teams knocking on his door with a blank check. His stock has obviously declined so maybe other teams may not be willing to take a chance. He has earned seven figures for the last six years, but most likely will not be offered that type of money.

I wonder if a move back to the NL as his career wanes would benefit Vazquez. Maybe a change of scenery would motivate him to execute better on the mound.

Now I’m certainly not saying the Mets should sign Vazquez to a three-year, $36 million deal like they did with Ollie P (sorry to remind you of that again). But maybe a one-year deal with a club option could work.

Vazquez could slide into the fifth starter position while Santana heals, and based on his performance, he could remain there or pitch long relief. Pelfrey, Dickey, Niese, Gee (or Mejia or another FA) and Vazquez. This rotation doesn’t exactly wow anyone, but it could be serviceable at least until Johan returns and if the Mets can consistently score runs (that’s a topic for a whole other article).

The problem with this is that there might be a team out there willing to take more of a chance on Vazquez and maybe sign him to a two or even three-year deal. Besides Cliff Lee, the starting pitching FA market is mediocre at best, so teams in need of a starter may resort to desperate measures, like Vazquez.

If his price tag and year commitment were too hefty, then I’d say stay away. But if no one acts on Vazquez, this could be the time to take the chance, even if it is just as an insurance policy. We saw how well R.A. Dickey worked out as an insurance policy last year, so I’m optimistic in thinking that maybe the same thing can happen with Vazquez.

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One of the initial challenges that Sandy Alderson will face as the news Mets GM will involve the decision to either hold tight with the talent the Mets have or break up the core of players and basically start fresh.

Right now, the Mets core centers around David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana. They have a solid supporting cast which includes Angel Pagan, Ike Davis, Mike Pelfrey and a healthy Jason Bay.

If someone unfamiliar with the streaky performances of these core players were to look at this team, that person would think that the Mets are very talented. The thing is, that person would be correct. However, the lack of success over the past few seasons has dealt more with the inconsistency and injury troubles of these players.

When healthy and performing up to their potential, Wright, Reyes, Beltran and Santana rank among the top players in the game easily. But can this team sit tight and wait for all these players to perform at their optimal level?

The Mets just exercised the option on Reyes, but that doesn’t mean he will be here come the start of the season. If the right deal comes along, Sandy may be inclined to pull the trigger.

Same goes for Wright and Beltran. Santana will most likely start the year on the DL, and he has proven that when healthy, he’s still a top of the rotation threat.

As a Met fan, I am an eternal optimist. Every year I think that it will be “the year” for the Mets. They always seem to have a talented team but have trouble meshing on all cylinders to compete for a playoff berth.

From watching this team, I have seen the full potential of the core players. Reyes is one of the most dynamic athletes in the game, and Wright has the tools to be the perennial NL All-Star third baseman. When healthy, Beltran possesses the rare combination of speed and power, and Santana still baffles hitters with his nasty change-up.

I hope the Mets retain all of these players for the 2011 campaign. They make up a good core of players that can thrive with the right supporting cast. Of them, I am the most torn on Beltran, but since he only has one year left on his contract, I’m starting to think that maybe waiting him out might be the best option.

The problem with last year was that the players who were supposed to be the supporting cast like Pagan, Davis and Pelfrey were forced to serve as the core players due to the inconsistencies and injuries of the core.

With all these players performing well and with some sort of consistency, there’s no doubt that this is a talented team.

Look back at the 2006 team that came up just short of a World Series berth. Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and David Wright made up the core while players like Pedro Martinez, Paul LoDuca, Billy Wagner and Cliff Floyd among others provided a stellar supporting cast.

Though the current Mets club may not have the talent of the ’06 club, they do have the pieces to compete for the divisional title or at least the NL wild card.

The core players will determine what type of season the Mets will have. Maybe some new leadership will instill a sense of consistency into these players en route to a successful season.

So keep the core together Sandy, add some supporting players (a starting pitcher, some bullpen help and maybe a bat or two) and get this team back on the right track.

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Two bright spots on an otherwise bleak 2010 Mets squad were pitchers Hisanori Takahashi and Robert Alan Dickey.

Both are free-agent eligible, with the deadline to negotiate with Takahashi fast approaching. When the Mets signed Takahashi, they didn’t really know what they were going to get from the Japanese lefty. However, he pitched so well in spring training that the Mets had to carry him on the 25-man roster.

His role early on was more as a long reliever, but he eventually cracked the starting rotation. In his first 12 innings as a starter, he did not give up a run, and that was against the Yankees and the Phillies.

He hit a rough patch for a while but later settled very nicely into the back end of the bullpen. He even converted on all eight of his save opportunities, further adding to his value.

He finished 10-6 overall with a 3.61 ERA and eight saves. Not bad for a 35-year-old rookie.

But that’s the thing: He’s 35. Can the Mets count on Takahashi getting the job done for another two years?

Plus, there have been rumors that Takahashi wants a starting role. If the Mets cannot guarantee this, there might be another team that can.

Based on his year, I’d like to see Alderson offer Takahashi a one-year deal with an option for 2012. So far, the Mets have just offered a one-year deal. Maybe the option would sit better with Takahashi.

He can be a valuable member of our pitching staff, whether as a starter, long reliever, eighth inning guy or even closer. Hopefully, Sandy and Hisanori can come to an agreement.

Now onto Mr. Dickey. Dickey had a stellar year for the Amazin’s. But how long can his success continue?

Dickey finished 11-9, but if the Mets could have given him some more run support, his record could have been better. He posted a 2.84 ERA and had two complete games, including his memorable one-hitter of the Phillies on August 13.

Since the Mets could use some stability from their starting staff, they’d be wise to re-sign Dickey. But is a two-year deal too long?

Like Takahashi, Dickey is getting up there in age; however, neither Takahashi nor Dickey have pitching styles that will necessarily generate longevity issues. Takahashi relies on hitting spots and changing speeds while Dickey relies on baffling opposing hitters with the knuckleball.

Just like with Takahashi, I’d like to see Alderson offer a one-year deal with an option to Dickey. Hopefully, the Mets have learned their lesson about signing pitchers who have been inconsistent over their entire career to multi-year deals. (Oliver Perez ring any bells?)

I’m not comparing Takahashi or Dickey to Perez in any way, shape or form, except I guess that both Perez and Takahashi are left-handed.

When it comes down to it, if the only way to retain these players is with guaranteed two-year deals, I’d say go for it. They won’t command extremely large salaries and have already proven their worth to this organization. To be two of the only bright spots from a year with very few bright spots to begin with is saying something.

So get it done, Sandy: Stabilize the pitching staff by bringing back Takahashi and Dickey. Pitching wins championships as we witnessed with the San Francisco Giants.

Pelfrey, Niese, Dickey and a healthy Santana do not exactly compare well to Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez and Bumgarner (Barry Zito is a big joke; good thing the Mets didn’t sign him when they had the chance).

But with experience, this staff has plenty of potential, especially if Takahashi gets a few spot starts along the way.

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