Notes From Sin City: Even With K-Rod, Mets Still Need Plenty of Work

Our MLB editor files dispatches from the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas in Notes From Sin City.

While the baseball world watches and waits for Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia to make up their mind, or even just for a scrap from super-agent Scott Boras, closer Francisco Rodriguez has become the belle of the Winter Meetings ball.

Though the Mets have yet to publicly acknowledge that they have signed the record-setting reliever, it is widely believed that Rodriguez has agreed to a three-year deal with the club worth roughly $37 million and containing a vesting option for a fourth year that could push its value past $50 million.

Problem solved, right? Third straight September swoon averted, right? Hardly.

Look, there's no doubt that the Mets' biggest need heading into the offseason was to fix their wretched bullpen. And there's no doubt that Rodriguez is a big part of the puzzle in that regard. But they also play in the same division as the reigning world champions and a pair of clubs in the Marlins and Braves who are capable of winning 85-plus games if things break right.

New York has some elite talent -- Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Johan Santana -- but it also has a roster that is perilously thin at the margins.

The outfield corners leave a lot to be desired. So too does second base, where Luis Castillo is penciled in to be the Opening Day starter. Castillo and Ryan Church are major health risks, even if you discount the post-concussion symptoms Church battled last season as more of a freak accident. Fernando Tatis discovered a fountain of youth last year, but you have to wonder if it will run out in 2008. Ditto for first baseman Carlos Delgado even.

The starting rotation is in similar shape. You have the wonderful Johan Santana at the top, followed by the emerging Mike Pelfrey. Then what? John Maine, who was injured last year, Jonathon Niese, who is about as green as a pitcher can be and a whole host of question marks after that.

The Mets were very close to the Phillies at the end of last year. Perhaps they've closed the gap with the addition of Rodriguez, but let's not pretend that Philadelphia isn't going to get better. Also, let's not pretend that the Mets' roster-wide problem has been solved.

They're simply far too top-heavy. The Phillies have a similar collection of star-caliber players, but far better role players, a more robust bench and a bullpen with plenty of options for manager Charlie Manuel.

In fact, K-Rod doesn't do much of anything to protect the Mets' soft underbelly -- the main cause at the root of their gut-wrenching collapses the last two seasons. He merely fills the void left by injured closer Billy Wagner. The injury to Wagner might have sunk New York's playoff hopes in 2008, but the bullpen was a problem all year long.

Even with Rodriguez in the fold, GM Omar Minaya still has to do something about the bridge to the ninth inning (acquiring a few relievers who can get hitters out on both sides of the plate would be a wonderful start). And while he's at it, he still needs an outfield bat and a starting pitcher he can really count on in 2009. (Moises Alou redux and Jon Garland aren't going to cut it.)

As for Francisco Rodriguez, he represents a step in the right direction for the bullpen, but luring big stars to the Big Apple has never been Minaya's problem. Finding quality players for the last few spots on the 25-man roster has been a major challenge during his tenure with the Mets. The Rodriguez signing doesn't tell us anything about his ability to meet that challenge heading into 2009.