The Mets have acquired Gary Matthews Jr. from the Angels for pitcher Brian Stokes and the Angels will pay $21.5 million of the $23.5 million left on Matthews’ contract. This is the Mets way of taking out an insurance policy on Carlos Beltran, who is facing knee problems. This move adds depth to the Mets outfield in case of injury, but it doesn’t address their biggest need; another starting pitcher. 

Reports are that the Mets have between $15 and 20 million left to spend this offseason and that money must be put toward a starting pitcher. They have flirted with the idea of getting a catcher or first basemen, but a pitcher is their biggest need. The Mets wanted Joel Pineiro, but he chose to go to the Angels. Ben Sheets, Chien-Ming Wang, and Jon Garland are three names that come up when talking about he Mets’ pursuit of a starter and any one of those guys would boost their staff. Wang and Sheets would come with question marks do to injuries in 2009. Nonetheless, the Mets should take the risk and go for Wang or Sheets. Their potential is high and either one of them, if healthy, would compliment Johan Santana well at the front end of the rotation. 

One player the Mets should not go after is John Smoltz. A good amount of Met fans want Smoltz and some sources say that Smoltz is on the Mets’ radar, but what will he do for the team this year? I know he pitched better in St. Louis, but he was absolutely torched in Boston and he is not the answer for the Mets. He’ll be 43 in May. 

For now, people will focus on the Gary Matthews acquisition, but more importantly, they should be focusing on the fact that the Mets still need to sign or acquire a starting pitcher.