Rules for engagement: How Omar should approach the offseason!

This is how I think Omar Minaya should approach the Off-season:

1) Go and get a closer via Free Agency - Francisco Rodriquez, Brian Fuentes

2) Package Aaron Heilman and a prospect (Maybe Daniel Murphy/Fernando Martinez) for a Starting pitcher. The Mets this Off-season are going to have to part with one of their top prospects to get something done. Heilman has wore out his welcome in New York, I think if he gets out of town he will be a much better pitcher. Also my thinking of Fernando Martinez is now they have Wilmer Flores on the rise, I think they can afford such a move... Mets have to be creative here....My thoughts on Murphy is he has built a little value now, so maybe you will get something for him..Even though I would hate to get rid of him

2a) If you do trade Daniel Murphy, you are have to go and get 2B. Sign Orlando Hudson, he is a proven defensive second basemen, a switch hitter and can flat out hit.

3) Sign Manny Ramirez - I know he is going to be 37, he is a great hitter and he will take the pressure off the young hitters in the lineup. He will probably demand a 2 yrs commitment..

4) Sign LHP Jeremy Affeldt, RHP Juan Cruz

5) Trade Luis Castillo for anything...(Minor leaguers)

6) Trade Scott Schoeneweis for role players may be bench help....

7) Sign Juan Rivera for outfield help, he can give Ryan Church days off against Left hand Pitching..

8) Sign Nick Punto (IF) , He can play 2B, 3B, and even SS... Will take the place of Damion Easley.

9) Sign Oliver Perez - Give him the money! Not to many LHP that are 27 and are in the top 5 in strikeouts. Boris might price him out of NY!!!


If I had it my way this is how the Roster would stack up:

Lineup:

1) Reyes-SS (S)
2) Hudson-2B (S)
3) Wright-3B (R)
4) Ramirez-LF (R)
5) Delgado-1B (L)
6) Beltran-CF (S)
7) Church-RF (L)
8) Schneider-C (L)

Bench:

Rivera-OF (R)
Evans-OF/1B (R)
Punto-UT (S)
Chavez-OF (L)
Castro-C (R)
Murphy-IF/OF* (L)
Pagan-OF (S)

*unless traded

Starting Rotation:

1) Santana (LHP)
2) Maine (RHP)
3) Perez (LHP)
4) Pelfrey (RHP)
5) Who ever they get for Heilman and Prospect(s)

Bullpen:

LR- Parnell
MR- Smith
MR- Feliciano(LHP)
MR- Affeldt(LHP)
SU- Cruz
CL-Rodriguez/Fuentes

Looks great on paper, but let's see what Omar Minaya does..It's easier said than done.

What do you think? Email me or make comments on this!