While it seems every other major market team is making big moves this offseason (Yanks, Red Sox, Phillies, Mariners, Rangers), the Mets have done pretty much nothing but sign backup catchers.  This has led to some moaning among Mets fans, but as James pointed out earlier today, the Mets can still significantly upgrade their roster by signing and/or acquiring some of the remaining free agents and trade candidates on the market.  Combine a Sheets signing, a Holliday signing, and an acquisition of Harang to a healthy Mets roster, and all of a sudden the Mets look like contenders. 

Unfortunately, I have little faith that Omar will sign and/or acquire two solid starting pitchers during the offseason. The Mets currently have four pitchers on their roster penciled into the starting rotation: Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, and Perez. That leaves room for one more pitcher.  Thus, the Mets have two options:

1) Sign an injury-prone pitcher like Bedard, Sheets, or Duchscherer to a major-league contract.  To hedge the risk of signing one of these pitchers, also offer minor-league deals to formerly successful starting pitchers looking to make a comeback. 

2) SIgn or acquire a reliable starting pitcher to take the last empty spot in the rotation.  

In Scenario 1, the Mets would sign one of the three high-reward, high-risk free agents, and probably pair that signing with additional signings of low-cost starting pitchers that can be placed in Triple-A.  Potential candidates include Chien-Ming Wang, Noah Lowry, Daniel Cabrera, Rich Hill, or any other pitcher that would be willing to sign a non-guaranteed, one-year deal and pitch in Triple-A.  Niese and Figueroa would provide additional insurance in Buffalo.  

In Scenario 2, the Mets would sign or trade for a starting pitcher who has consistently thrown 200+ innings while performing at or above league average.  Potential candidates include Joel Pineiro, Aaron Harang, Doug Davis, John Garland, Jason Marquis, etc.  

Why can't the Mets follow both Scenario 1 and Scenario 2?  Because that would require the Mets' front office to be creative, and the Mets' front office is not creative.  Signing both an injury-prone pitcher and a more reliable starting pitcher to a major league deal would require the Mets to place more than five starters with major-league contracts on their 25-man roster, which means one of those pitchers would have to move to the bullpen.  Unfortunately, I don't think the Mets are willing to place any of their current starting pitchers in the bullpen.  Perez would be a nightmare as a reliever used in high-leverage situations, and the Mets are not likely to send him to the bullpen to collect $12 million dollars for mop-up duty.  Maine has the potential to be a good reliever, as he has an ability to induce swinging strikes when his fastball is working.  But if healthy, he would certainly be more valuable as a starter.  Plus, Maine is one of "their guys," a starter on the team since 2006.  And let's not forget how Minaya refused to allow Heilman to even step foot in the rotation after establishing himself as a decent reliever. Moving a player from the bullpen to the rotation, or vice-versa, is not something Minaya is prone to do.  

Thus, despite the potential for the Mets to place the likes of Harang and Sheets in their rotation, I am not optimistic that such a significant upgrade to the rotation will occur.  My prediction: the Mets sign Pineiro, Garland, or Marquis, and Niese eventually replaces either Maine or Perez in the rotation (whichever one gets injured first).