Sheets to the A’s; Now what?

This leaves the Mets to pick from, again in no particular order:

• John Smoltz
• Erik Bedard
• Jon Garland
• Chien-Ming Wang
• Jarrod Washburn

Did I miss any?

Your 2010 Mets rotation (as of right now)

1. Johan Santana
2. Mike Pelfrey
3. Oliver Perez
4. John Maine
5. Fernando Nieve

According to Ken Davidoff, Omar Minaya said that as of now, Nieve is penciled in as the fifth starter in the rotation.  Davidoff further clarifies that Nieve is ahead of Jon Niese as the Mets “want to take it slow” with Niese.

He also mentioned that the Mets still want to add another arm, be it John Smoltz, Jon Garland or Ben Sheets (not in that order).

Santana tosses 24 pitches

I would hope Johan Santana isn’t in regular-season form. 
It’s still January.

Manuel’s Musing

“The start is going to be very, very critical for us. But at the same time, we need to know that it's 162 games.”

-Jerry Manuel on the start (and the end)

Santana to throw from mound Tuesday

Johan Santana will test his surgically cleaned up arm on Tuesday and will throw from the mound.

“I’m feeling good,” Santana told the AP. “Time will tell, but I am feeling good.”

In other words: Tomorrow is a big day for Mets fans.  All signs point to Santana being OK, but I won’t be comfortable until he throws pain-free.

The AP also reports that Oliver Perez is pain-free.  I can’t quite figure out if that’s good or bad news for Mets fans.

$8 million for Ben Sheets

Ben Sheets will cost a team $8 million, according to Jon Heyman, who spoke to an NL executive.

The Mets are one of the many teams to watch Sheets throw last week.

Sheets hit 92 mph on the gun, according to those that were there.

I’m all for bringing Sheets aboard for the Mets.  He is, by far, the best pitcher still on the market, injury history or no injury history.

Links: Mets mini-camp reports today

The Mets are holding a voluntary three-day mini-camp in Port St. Lucie, starting today.

Adam Rubin is there and providing some awesome details.  Not to steal from his page views, here are the links to what he’s written so far:

Ollie says he’s ready to go

More from St. Lucie (photos)

Johan on the field (photo)

Back in PSL

Baseball, for the most part, is back!

Re-guessing the 2010 Mets Opening Day lineup

Earlier this month, I took a stab at what I expected the Mets Opening Day lineup would look like.  A lot has changed over the last two weeks or so, so it’s time to re-guess the lineup.

Here is what I think, not want, the Mets lineup to look like on April 5?

1. Jose Reyes
2. Luis Castillo
3. David Wright
4. Jason Bay
5. Daniel Murphy
6. Jeff Francoeur
7. Angel Pagan
8. Henry Blanco
9. Johan Santana

What do you think the Opening Day lineup will look like?

The world works in funny ways, sometimes

Does anyone else find this ironic and funny?

From Brian Costa…

[Carlos] Beltran, who was unable to attend the dinner because he is rehabbing from knee surgery in Colorado, received the Joan Payson Award for community service. Mets general manager Omar Minaya accepted the award on Beltran's behalf, making no mention of the dispute between Beltran and the Mets over his surgery last week.

Oh, these Mets.

For some more notes on what went on at the BBWAA awards gala, click here.  There are some gems.

Poll: Who will start in CF on Opening Day?

With the Mets acquisition of Gary Matthews Jr., likely to challenge Angel Pagan for the starting job in centerfield as Carlos Beltran rehabs, I’m wondering who will get the nod come Opening Day.

This is not who you hope will start, but rather who will be the starter.