How do you fix the Mets?

The Mets are currently baseball’s worst team, with a 5-13 record they are the only team in the majors with a winning percentage under .300. Though they have a little talent in the form of the underperforming Jose Reyes, the hobbled Carlos Beltran, the perennially DL-bound Jason Bay, and the head-case that is David Wright, they very simply do not have the ability to compete over an entire season. They have a bankrupt ownership group and an understandably furious fan base. Everyone knew that the Mets were in for a long summer this year but already there seems to be a sense of urgency growing in the front office and in manager Terry Collins’ office. The Mets cut Brad Emaus, the preseason heir to Luis Castillo’s position at 2nd base,  before Tuesday night’s game against the Astros, hopefully, that is sign of things to come.

I think its obvious that the Mets will never fully recover on the field until the Wilpons sell the team. The Madoff lawsuit has stripped the owners of any financial flexibility or ability to invest in the team and the Mets, Mets fans, and the city of New York deserve better. The Wilpons have demonstrated incredible selfishness by holding on to  the delusion that they can still run this team effectively in the future. As its entirely their decision when and if to  sell, let’s look at what the Metsies can do in the interim:

SELL EVERYTHING. The words “fire sale” have never been more applicable. Take a page out of the Marlins playbook and trade everyone. Before the trade deadline. That way, the new players will have time to adjust to the stadium, the city, the manager, and each other over the second half and can hit the ground running next year.

Trade Jose Reyes. Reyes is a career .286 hitter with speed. He has played 169 games over the past 2 seasons. He could definitely be a productive player in a lineup where he doesn’t have to be the centerpiece but he’s very simply not cut out to be the leader the Mets need him to be. Moreover, its very possible, given his recent decline, (in statistics but its also obvious if you watch him) that Reyes’ trade value will only continue to decline. Trade him now, there will be no shortage of suitors, and get what you can. Bold Prediction: How perfect would Reyes fit with the Red Sox? They’d love him and that the kind of lineup he’d thrive in. How about Jose Reyes to Boston for Jed Lowerie, Felix Doubront, and 2 middle tier minor leaguers?

Trade Beltran. For anything. He’s over the hill and trying to play on one knee. With a big contract. Take whatever you can get.

Trade Bay. He’s a real good player but Citi Field is a tough place for guys like him to play. Trade him while you can still get a good return. The Mets are paying him too much too.

Keep Angel Pagan, Wright, Johan Santana, and Ike Davis. The value of having a few solid veterans on a young and developing team cannot be overstated. These three guys can be those leaders. Wright is good when he’s good but terrible when he’s not, put up with it until one of the prospects you got in one of the trades can take over. Pagan is a good big league centerfielder and is worth hanging on to. Santana is one of the best pitchers in the Majors when he’s healthy. Keep him. With some luck, Davis could develop into one of the better all around first baseman in the pros. Hold on to him too.

Keep Citi Field. That place is great. The best thing the Mets have done in recent memory. Blue Smoke is delicious and I think they even have crepes. If you haven’t gone, go.

Trade everyone else. No one else on this team is good enough to not consider trading. Trade Francisco Rodriguez, trade Mike Pelfrey, definitely trade Daniel Murphy.

This team has absolutely no shot of competing as its currently constructed and GM Sandy Alderson knows that. What is the difference between a 60 win team (the rebuilding Mets) and a 70 win team (the current Mets)? Neither makes the playoff, neither is successful but only one has a shot going forward. The Mets should trade what they have and build for the future. On the bright side, rock bottom isn’t that far away.

(PS- According to some thing I just read on ESPN, the Mets have an 11 in 10,000 chance of winning 40 or fewer games. That may not seem like a lot but that means its possible that the Mets tie or break their own personal record for futility set in 1962 when the brand new franchise went  40- 120 and finished 60.5 games out of first.)

– Max Frankel