Mets Not Planning Major Moves Before Spring Training: Fan Reaction

Considering what New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson had to say on Thursday, January 5, I guess I won't be purchasing an orange and blue Prince Fielder jersey this year.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson
Wikimedia Commons

"I think our greatest avenue of improvement is internal," Alderson said on a conference call, according to the Associated Press.

In other words, there will be no "Citi Fielder" headline on the front page of the New York Post any time soon. The Mets are standing pat this offseason, in case you didn't already know. So scratch Roy Oswalt and any other decent free agent left on the market.

Mets fans, of course, saw this coming. The team has been cutting payroll since last season when it traded away closer Francisco Rodriguez and All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran mid-season. Then, this offseason, the Mets didn't even bother making an offer to free agent, franchise shortstop Jose Reyes or any other player of significance. The other teams in the NL East aren't being so idle.

Reyes ended up signing with the Miami Marlins. So did lefty-handed pitcher Buehrle. Also in the NL East—the division in which the Mets have finished in four place the last three seasons —- the Phillies signed the best closer on the open market in Jonathan Papelbon, who will finish games for what's already the best starting staff in the game. And the young and talented Washington Nationals added lefty Gio Gonzalez and utility infielder Mark DeRosa, and have expressed interest in Fielder.

Added Alderson, "I think that if you look at the pitching as well as the position players, we've got great room for improvement."

Oh, there's room for improvement! Last year's team finished with a record of 77-85. But just how much can the Mets improve in an improving division? Take Reyes out of the equation and I don't see how you improve at all. But Alderson, who has worked for the small-budget San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics, has a track record of getting the most out of the least.

He bolstering the Mets' shoddy bullpen at baseball's Winter Meetings with the smart additions of Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch and Ramon Ramirez. Bring back Joan Santana, who missed all of last season recovering from shoulder surgery, and get more from the promising right-hander Dillon Gee, and maybe, just maybe the Mets will have decent pitching from front to back. The best case scenario for the offense is to see more growth from blossoming sluggers Lucas Duda and Ike Davis, who missed most of last season due to an ankle injury, and a monster season from David Wright.

Basically, the Mets are going with what they have and they're being honest about it. Let's be honest about something else. No major moves this offseason means no upward movement in the standings.

More Mets content from this Yahoo! contributor:

Five Remaining Free Agent Pitchers the NY Mets Should Consider Signing: Fan's Take

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Adam Martini is a freelance sportswriter who grew up in Queens, N.Y. with a view of Shea Stadium from his bedroom window. He spent many nights in the upper deck at Shea rooting for the Mets. You can follow Adam and the Mets on Twitter: @PegCitySports

Sources

The Official Site of the New York Mets.

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