December 12, 2013

The Mets Are A Shortstop Away

Photo Courtesy of @Lets86It
Before you prepare to jump down my throat, I'm not about to tell you that the Mets are a shortstop away from being a World Series contenders.  They are however a shortstop away from a few different things.

First and foremost, with the additions the front office has made to date the lone remaining hole on the roster is at shortstop. While that's not to say improvements can't be made upon the players elsewhere on the roster, there seems to be a plan in place for every position but shortstop.  Is it possible that the Mets could enter the 2014 season without so much as one obvious glaring void in the lineup?

Next, its refreshing to say that should the Mets upgrade the shortstop position, they'll have accomplished all of the major goals they set forth for this winter.  In a free agent market that most agree went through the roof, Sandy Alderson was able to address both outfield corners and obtain a quality starting pitcher.  Addressing the team's needs at shortstop would effectively complete the roster renovation fans had been craving.

In the long term the Mets still have work to do.  In addition to Matt Harvey getting healthy, the team awaits the likes of Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero.  There are still questions to be answered with it comes to Juan Lagares and Lucas Duda.  The Mets aren't prepared to contend in 2014, but they will be a whole lot closer than last year if Alderson can finalized the offseason in dramatic fashion.

Its a process.  It didn't take a year or two to create the mess that is the New York Mets, and it'll likely take more than a year or two to rectify it.  However for the first time in a long time, the progress is apparent.  The Mets appear able to spend in the free agent market and have a farm system that is producing major league caliber players.  For the first time in a long time, things are looking up in Queens.  Sandy Alderson is one shortstop away from taking that next step.

Like what you've read?  Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83.

2 comments:

  1. I don't think they did much. They replaced Byrd's production with Grandy. Young is a 200 hitter until
    he proves otherwise. So they need another power bat and a shortstop and a bullpen make over. I like Colon

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  2. Why so negative, ah you remain anonymous . . . mets have seriously upgraded with each acquistion, each one of them!

    Let's not forget, though, if we are going to give up on Ike, which is solely a matter of what we can get back, we will need a shortstop and a real first baseman. C'mon, lets be honest, neither Duda who should be playing for the Guam Snakeheads, or Satin, who is Baxter's replacement on the bench, are answers for us!

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