Top 10 New York Fantasy Baseball Targets for 2010

As the snow melts and spring inches closer, it’s hard not to imagine the beautiful green grass at the new Yankee Stadium, the brand new championship banner being hung, and hopes of a repeat in the minds’ of all the fans. Across town, the old saying, “hope springs eternal” comes into play at Citifield, home of the New York Mets, a team looking to rebound from an injury plagued 2009 season and unseat the defending National League Champion Phillies from atop the NL East. There are some great team storylines. However, though they say there is no “I” in team, fantasy baseball is all about the “I”. Will Jose Reyes bounce back? Will knee surgery affect Carlos Beltran’s bottom line? How will Curtis Granderson fare in The Bronx? I’ll answer these questions and more in my Top 5 Mets and Yankees to target in fantasy baseball for 2010.

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Mets Introduce Jason Bay at Press Conference

The Mets introduced their new star left fielder Jason Bay today at Citi Field. Bay met the New York media for the first time as a Met Tuesday and he’ll be inserted into a Mets lineup that was filled with injuries in 2009. The Mets in hot pursuit of Bay since the early stages of free agency and they finally landed their big fish.

Bay’s four-year $66 million contract doesn’t allow the Mets to address other glaring needs through free agency, but the signing will provide the Mets with a much needed power bat in the middle of their lineup. Bay, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran will bat third, fourth and fifth in some order. 

The signing of Bay is meaningful for the fact that the Mets may not have a power hitting first basemen. Whether their first basemen be the young Daniel Murphy or an older Carlos Delgado, it doesn’t seem as though they’ll receive much power from that position. Citi Field is a big ballpark and the Mets need someone who can drive the ball to the deep parts of the field.

While the Mets were in pursuit of Bay, it was said that Bay did not want to join the Mets. Bay denied those allegations at the press conference.

“I wouldn’t have signed the contract if I didn’t want to be here or I wasn’t happy. This is one of the biggest days of my life,” Bay told the media. 

Bay has hit over 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in four of the last five years. Last season, with the Red Sox, he hit .267 with 36 home runs and 119 RBIs. Bay was one of the top three free agents on the market.

Mets Holes and Free Agency

Let’s face it. The Mets aren’t in a good position. They have a lot of question marks on their roster due to all of the injuries they suffered in 2009. They also have a lot of holes to fill. The team has said they don’t want to increase their payroll by more than $20 million from 2009 therefore making it hard to fill all of the holes through free agency, especially if they sign one of the top free agents who will demand most of the $20 million. 

The following are the holes the Mets need to fill and what they can do to fill them:

Pitchers: First and foremost, Omar Minaya needs to focus on getting a number two starter to pitch behind Johan Santana. The Mets can have the best offense in the National League, but without having another viable starting pitcher behind Johan, they won’t get to the next level. Free agent John Lackey is going to cost them an estimated $16 million a year. Although they should spend their money on Lackey, the cheaper route would be signing Jason Marquis or Joel Pineiro.   

Left Field: The Mets have offered Jason Bay a four-year deal worth $65 million. They’ll also get into talks with Matt Holliday although it’s doubtful they’ll sign him. Spending money on a left fielder will certainly handcuff the team from spending elsewhere. The Mets can get away with signing a second-tier left fielder if their core players like Carlos Beltran and David Wright rebound in 2010. Marlon Byrd would be a good signing for them at left field. 

Catcher: It seems certain the Mets will work out a deal with free agent catcher Bengie Molina. The deal will most likely work out to be a two-year deal for around $12 million. By the time this contract ends, catching prospect Josh Thole should be ready to start. 

These aren’t the Mets only holes though. They also need a setup man and a first basemen. Daniel Murphy is penciled in as the first basemen right now, but things can change. The 24 year old is going to have to hit for more power to remain the team’s first basemen.

Being in New York city, being in the same town as the Yankees, having a brand new ball park, having to sell seats in that brand new ball park, and having an anxious, annoyed fan base makes it hard for the Mets to sit around and do nothing. They can’t remain static. They have to make a move to appease their fans and sell tickets.

Mets Left Field Options 2010

There’s no better words to the ears of Met fans than “it’s the offseason” after a horrific 2009 season that ended with a World Series matchup between the two teams they hate the most. The Mets figure to be in the market for a marquee left fielder and the free agent class has some good ones to offer starting at the top. Matt Holliday, who may be the biggest name on the market, leads the left field class along with Jason Bay.

Left fielders the Mets should concern themselves with:
Johnny Damon – Signing Damon would allow Reyes to bat third and gives the Mets a pesky leadoff hitter. It deepens the Mets lineup, allowing Wright to bat fourth and Beltran to bat fifth.
Marcus Thames – Thames has some pop in his bat and could provide power batting sixth in the Mets lineup.
Marlon Byrd – Byrd had his best year in 2009 hitting 20 home runs and driving in 89. He’s on the second tier and would be a cost effective option at left field.

Left fielders the Mets should make a run for:
Matt Holliday - Holliday is the the premiere name in the 2010 free agent class and is expecting Mark Teixeira-like figures. Pairing him with Wright would make a fearsome middle of the order. Holliday may be better suited in the National League but he’ll get offers from teams all around the league.
Jason Bay – Bay had a big year in Boston and would do wonders in the Mets lineup and locker room. He would be a terror in the middle of the Mets lineup. Bay is going to want a big contract after the season he had in 2009. He had 36 home runs and drove in 119. Boston will be players in the chase for Holliday and Bay and will most likely sign one of them.
Carl Crawford - The Rays have an option on Crawford in 2010 but if they don’t pick it up the Mets should make a play for him. He’ll get less attention than Holliday and Bay and would team with Reyes to make the Mets an all out basestealing team. Reyes and Crawford batting would make the Mets’ three, four and five hitters better.

Dark Horse candidates:
Rick Ankiel – Ankiel had a down year in 2009 compared to ‘08 but could make a resurgence with a new team. I won’t call him a center fielder by trade because he was once a pitcher. Defensively, the switch from center to left wouldn’t be an issue. 
Hideki Matsui – The World Series MVP may not be headed back to the Bronx although he would like to. The team in Queens will take a look to see if his knees can handle the everyday grind in the outfield.
Xavier Nady – Nady was with the Mets in 2006 but was playing right field. He’s a veteran and a career .280 hitter. He’d be a nice option behind the upper echelon of left fielders.

The Mets left fielder in 2010 will be:
Marlon Byrd – Holliday and Bay will sign for megabucks elsewhere and the Rays will pick up Crawford’s option. Byrd has put together decent numbers the last three seasons and could break out in 2010 with the Mets.

Wright Placed on 15-day DL, Could Miss Rest of Season

David Wright took a 94-mph fastball to the head on Saturday and Sunday was placed on the 15-day DL.  He is out of the hospital and has a concussion.  About Wright missing the rest of the season, Jerry Manuel said it’s ”a possibility”. 

The Mets need to handle the situation with caution and really consider keeping Wright out for the rest of the season.  The season is lost and they should not jeopardize the career of one of their stars for a lost cause.  I know the Mets need to get people in the stands of their new expensive stadium and if their stars sit out, that will be less likely.  The future health of the team is more important.  If I were a Mets fan I would rather see Reyes, Beltran and Wright get healthy and miss the remainder of the season rather than try a comeback and risk long-term injury that could negatively affect the chance for this team to win a championship in the next few years.