Mets need for a impact bat and what is out there..

The Mets have a need for a impact bat. The also have other needs that need to be addressed before they go after offense. They need a closer, a couple of middle relievers and probably 2 starters to fill the back end of the rotation.

The Mets this off-season were rumored to break up the core (Wright, Reyes, Beltran), but that is not going to happen .The Mets offense was good, but it had it time of failure especially in the last week of the season.

This is where they can use a complimentary player with some pop, after they get all the other pieces. They have a need right handed bat and probably one that can play left field. The Mets can use Daniel Murphy in left next year, but if you think about it the Mets will have a lot of left handed hitters in their lineup like Delgado, Schneider, Church. The Mets will be very vulnerable to lefty pitching.

The Mets have been scouring the league for someone like that and here are some names that are available:

Eric Byrnes: He definitely fits this category. He was rumored to go because of his salary and the Diamondbacks like the idea of playing Connor Jackson in left field. I would love to see the Mets pull of a deal for him, but the Mets were rumored to offer Luis Castillo and the Diamondbacks really don't like him. The Diamondbacks like Aaron Heilman and would have to give more than him. It might not be worth it..

Jermaine Dye: He is right handed power hitter with a decent pedigree. The Mets have talked to the White Sox, but the asking price has been high. The Mets would have to give Bobby Parnell plus Fernando Martinez for starters, and the problem with Dye is he always gets hurt.

Carlos Lee : Big time Houston Bopper has just been reported on the block. He is owed $75 Million over the next four years and $18.5 Million in 2009. He is 32 and the Mets know he is a liability in the field, but he can hit. Minaya has been known to do the impossible and I can see the Mets trying to trade for him. He is the kind of hitter the Mets need to put the fear in National League Pitchers, but that contract is ridiculous!

Manny Ramirez: Yeah, Craig Carlton can chant all he wants, but that ain't going to get Manny Ramirez here any faster. The Mets had many of chances to get Manny, even last year. The Mets made up their minds that he was not a fit, but is he a fit now? He is one of the best clutch hitters in baseball, he is right handed bat and he is 36 years old. All the Mets have to do is pay him, but they are not going to give him a Boras' ransom..

Pat Burrell: The Mets have no interest in Pat Burrell. He fits what the Mets need, but is another liability in the field and he has played for the enemy. Sorry Pat "The Bat"!

Juan Rivera: He is not a big bopper, but he is a right handed hitter. The Mets can pay him to be a role player and platoon hitter with Daniel Murphy. He is very connected to Omar Minaya and I would not be surprised if they brought him to Queens.

The Mets lineup will need some tinkering, but I think the Mets will get role players like they had in 2006 to fill in the missing pieces.

Other Mentionable names that are left hand hitting outfielders:
Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, Mark Kotsay, Raul Ibanez, Garrett Anderson, Jacque Jones.

*The Mets can also use an upgrade at second base, but they have to get rid of Castillo's contract before they do that. Many have mentioned Orlando Hudson to be the successor, including myself. But if you think about it, would you give this guy a 5 year, $50 Million dollar contract. He has only played over 140 games twice in his last 7 years... Might as well stick with Castillo.

Go Mets!