With the top free agent pitcher off the market, teams will turn to second-tier pitchers like Joel Pineiro and Jason Marquis. Look for the Mets to pursue one of those pitchers and turn their full attention toward Jason Bay.

Ed Price tweeted, “Source: Free-agent P John Lackey to take physical with Red Sox. Boston apparently moving on to 2nd choice after Jason Bay. Working to confirm.”

This has implications on both the Yankees and Mets. 

The Mets have extended an offer to left fielder Jason Bay, formerly of the Red Sox. Boston has made at least two offers to Bay, but he has turned them both down. It looks like the Lackey signing means Boston will walk away from Bay. Now that Bay isn’t headed to Boston, the Mets are more of a likely landing spot for Bay.

Lackey to Boston makes the AL East tougher and may force the Yankees to dip into the free agent pool or trade market for another starting pitcher. Beckett, Lackey, and Lester will be tough trio to face. The Yankees will be in no rush to do so though.

The Mets have too many holes and Omar Minaya can’t fix this team in one offseason. They can’t sign the top three free agents for a quick fix like the Yankees did last year. There’s no way they can fill all of their holes during one free agency period. The topic of how much money the Mets spend and have the ability to spend is a different issue. Scott Boras recently called the Mets “cheap”, but they have the highest payroll in the NL. That’s hardly being cheap.

The Mets have to upgrade at one or two positions this winter to appease their fans and dare I say, “rebuild” their offense. If they sign Bay, catcher Bengie Molina, and a middle of the rotation guy, that should be enough to sell some tickets. If there’s money left over maybe the sign a guy like Nick Johnson at first base. Those moves will say to fans, “Look, we’re trying.” Well “we’re trying” isn’t going to please all Met fans but for the most part, it should do.

Their offense, which was so bad in 2009 due to injuries, has to get in shape. It won’t be easy trying to power their way through the NL East, especially when Citi Field isn’t a home run hitters best friend, but adding Bay’s bat to the lineup helps. A second or even a third place finish (I know Met fans don’t want to hear that) may be good enough to attract free agent pitchers from the 2011 class as long as their offense has a great year. They’ll have pitchers thinking, “Hey, the Mets have a solid offense to give me run support, a pitcher-friendly ballpark, and one of the best aces in the game.” The Mets could become a very attractive team for pitchers.

Omar Minaya’s motto should be; “Build an offense in 2010 and get pitching in 2011.” Of course he won’t come out publicly and say that this is what he wants to do, but it’s what he should be doing. Met fans don’t want to hear the word “rebuilding” and the Mets don’t really want to use the word since they are having a hard time filling their new multi-million dollar ballpark. That’s what 2010 will be though, like it or not.

The Mets need tot get a solid offense together and use that as the focal point in persuading 2011 free agent pitchers to sign. Jason Bay is a start. No matter what free agents they sign this winter, the team doesn’t automatically become contenders. “Build an offense in 2010 and get pitching in 2011.” Maybe that motto is hanging on a bulletin board in Minaya’s office somewhere.

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.

If the Mets settle on both second-tier position players and pitchers, they’ll remain at mediocrity in 2010. Their rotation is full of question marks after Johan Santana. Will free agent pitchers like Jason Marquis, Randy Wolf or Joel Pineiro be any better than current Met starters John Maine, Mike Pelfrey or Oliver Perez? 

Left fielders Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are going to be expensive and will hinder the Mets from spending money elsewhere. When I looked over the Mets options at left field, Marlon Byrd seemed the best fit for the team. The left field free agent class is deep compared to other positions. After Holliday and Bay, the there are steady players like Byrd, Johnny Damon and Marcus Thames, among others.

Financially, it’s not certain where the team stands. The Mets are said to be targeting marquee free agents but when it comes down to it, will they be able to afford them? If they can, Lackey should be target number one. After Lackey, they can look to Marlon Byrd or Marcus Thames in left field and also take a peak at another starter like Jason Marquis or Joel Pineiro. 

If Lackey is not an option, the Mets should strongly consider putting together a package for Roy Halladay. Halladay has recently said he won’t be signing with the Blue Jays after 2010, making it more likely he’ll be traded. 

The addition of Lackey or Halladay will make this team an instant playoff contender. The addition of Marquis or Pineiro will make this team marginally better.

Here is why the Mets should sign John Lackey.

The longer the Blue Jays wait, the less they’ll acquire in return for Halladay. Current Blue Jays general manager, Alex Anthopoulos, would like to get at least something for him before he jets into free agency and they are only compensated by a draft pick.

Just like the Yankees didn’t budge in July, they shouldn’t budge this winter. The main reason is they won without the guy! Why would they want to give up their better prospects and young arms for a him when they already know they can do it without him? It makes less sense now than it did over the summer for the Yankees not to pursue Halladay. Their two young arms, Hughes and Joba, have more postseason experience than Halladay. Don’t get me wrong, Halladay is a great pitcher. Top of the line. I’d rather see the Yankees sign free agent pitcher John Lackey than trade for Halladay. It’s better they only lose dollars, not players, to acquire a pitcher.

Here are two articles I wrote last July against the Yankees’ pursuit of Roy Halladay: The Yankees and Roy Halladay, Yankees Shouldn’t Celebrate the “Halladay”. I stand by my words and there is absolutely no reason the Yankees should acquire Roy Halladay, even if the Red Sox are on the verge of signing him. There should be no “swooping in” by the Yankees like they did with Teixeira. Brian Cashman will remain in the talks for Halladay to either drive up the price for the Red Sox and other bidders, or because the Yankees are genuinely interested in bringing Halladay to the Bronx.