Will Winter Meetings Bring Mets Some Heat?

By PATRICE EVANS

Updated 6:45 AM EST, Thu, Dec 4, 2008

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

Getty Images

Next week the Winter Meetings for Major League Baseball kick off, and what has thus far been a quiet offseason for the Mets should be picking up steam.

After all, following two straight seasons of missing the playoffs despite having the second-highest payroll in the game surely means some personnel changes are in order. Especially if you've already re-upped the contracts on all the coaches and management.

Plus Omar Minaya and the Mets are in good position to overhaul their bullpen; they are lacking in big-dollar contenders who need to spend on a closer, and they have good leverage with the free agent options because there's also a substantial market for late-inning relievers through trade. So there are options-a-plenty, now Omar just has to play like Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice.

But along with the pressure of recent history, there's also the issue of the rest of the National League not waiting to see what the Mets do. The Atlanta Braves have gone ahead and acquired a front line starter that was on Omar's radar, Javier Vazquez. They are also rumored to be in on A.J. Burnett, and a possible landing spot for former Cy Young winner Jake Peavy. Both are pitchers that could legitimately shift the balance of power in the East.

Around the rest of the NL the Cardinals also just acquired SS Khalil Greene, filling a void for them. And a few weeks back the Cubs re-signed Ryan Dempster, one of the starters that helped lead them to the best record in the NL.

So with the competition turning up the hot stove heat, Minaya needs to get something cooking sooner rather than later.