Top 5 New York Mets Position Battles - Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide 2009

The New York Mets, under the leadership of General Manager Omar Minaya, have made huge changes to the team's roster in this offseason. The headline addition being the signing of top free agent and all-time single season save record holder Francisco Rodriguez or affectionately known as K-Rod to one of the worst bullpens in all of baseball last season. Soon after the signing of K-Rod, Minaya wheeled and dealed sending Joe Smith and Aaron Heilman to Seattle in a 12-player swap that sent Sean Green and J.J. Putz to the Mets. In Putz and Rodriguez the Mets acquired two closers to fill-in for oft-injured Billy Wagner who is slated to miss the entire 2009 season after elbow surgery. If Billy Wagner comes back that could be the most heated position battle for the Mets having three former All-Star closers in one bullpen.

One thing Minaya did not change much was the starting lineup, believing that the offense scored enough runs last season he decided to refrain from making too many high-profile moves. The infield is almost set in stone with Carlos Delgado and David Wright at the corners and José Reyes and Luis Castillo anchoring down the middle. Brian Schneider is the backstop again this season and the starting pitching is almost complete with Johan Santana as the ace of the staff followed by John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Tim Redding, Jon Niese or Brandon Knight as the fifth starter unless the Mets re-sign Oliver Perez which seems more and more probable as the days go by. The outfield on the other hand is not nearly clear cut as the rest of the Mets roster. Centerfield is buoyed by Carlos Beltran but the corner outfield spots are very up in the air. The Mets traded for Ryan Church last season who had a promising start to last season as the Right Fielder but it was spoiled by two concussions that limited him to playing in 90 games. Fernando Tatis, Nick Evans, and Daniel Murphy will all fight for playing time in Left Field and some sporadic playing time in Right Field.

#1 New York Mets Position Battles: Closer-Fantasy Baseball 2009

Francisco Rodriguez

J.J. Putz

Billy Wagner

As previously stated, Rodriguez is the clear choice to be the closer going in after having a record-breaking season last year with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Putz is still finding himself after an injury riddled 2008 season and Wagner may miss the entire season due to injury.

Rodriguez 2008: 76 games, 68.1 innings, 54 hits, 21 runs, 17 earned runs, 4 home runs, 34 walks, 77 strikeouts, 2 wins, 3 losses, 62 saves, 7 blown saves, 1.29 WHIP, 2.24 ERA

2009 Projected: 78 games, 73.2 innings, 59 hits, 27 runs, 22 earned runs, 6 home runs, 31 walks, 80 strikeouts, 3 wins, 4 losses, 58 saves, 8 blown saves, 1.08 WHIP, 3.32 ERA

Putz 2008: 47 games, 46.1 innings, 46 hits, 20 runs, 20 earned runs, 4 home runs, 28 walks, 56 strikeouts, 6 wins, 5 losses, 15 saves, 8 blown saves, 1.60 WHIP, 3.88 ERA

2009 Projected: 79 games, 75.1 innings, 66 hits, 24 runs, 23 earned runs, 7 home runs, 40 walks, 70 strikeouts, 4 wins, 4 losses, 3 saves, 4 blown saves, 1.42 WHIP, 3.27 ERA

Wagner 2008: 46 games, 47.0 innings, 32 hits, 17 runs, 12 earned runs, 4 home runs, 10 walks, 52 strikeouts, 0 wins, 1 loss, 27 saves, 7 blown saves, 0.89 WHIP, 2.30 ERA

2009 Projected: DNP (Injury)

#2 New York Mets Position Battles: 5^th Starter-Fantasy Baseball 2009

Jon Niese

Brandon Knight

Oliver Perez

Jon Niese and Brandon Knight are two unstable additions to this team but could eat some innings when a 5^th starter is needed or if injury should occur to one of the top four starters. Yet more likely is the resigning of Oliver Perez moving Tim Redding to the 5^th spot and having Perez in his usual role as the crafty lefty with the high leg kick.

Niese 2008: 3 games started, 14.0 innings, 20 hits, 11 runs, 11 earned runs, 2 home runs, 8 walks, 11 strikeouts, 1 win, 1 loss, 2.00 WHIP, 7.07 ERA

2009 Projected: 8 games started, 40.1 innings, 53 hits, 25 runs, 24 earned runs, 6 home runs, 25 walks, 29 strikeouts, 3 wins, 4 losses, 1.93 WHIP 5.39 ERA

Knight 2008: 2 games started, 12.0 innings, 14 hits, 7 runs, 7 earned runs, 0 home runs, 7 walks, 10 strikeouts, 1 win, 0 losses, 1.75 WHIP, 5.25 ERA

2009 Projected: DNP (AAA)

Perez 2008: 34 games started, 194.0 innings, 167 hits, 100 runs, 91 earned runs, 24 home runs, 105 walks, 180 strikeouts, 10 wins, 7 losses, 1.40 WHIP, 4.22 ERA

2009 Projected: 31 games started, 183.2 innings, 164 hits, 96 runs, 90 earned runs, 21 home runs, 98 walks, 167 strikeouts, 12 wins, 5 losses, 1.40 WHIP, 4.46 ERA

#3 New York Mets Position Battles: Left Field-Fantasy Baseball 2009

Nick Evans

David Murphy

Nick Evans and David Murphy will have the best shots at being the opening day starter since Tatis is much better in Right Field or at a corner infielder spot. Advantage: Murphy after last season.

Evans 2008: 50 games, 109 at-bats, 18 runs, 28 hits, 10 doubles, 0 triples, 2 home runs, 9 RBIs, 7 walks, 24 strikeouts, .257 average

2009 Projected: 62 games, 133 at-bats, 24 runs, 44 hits, 14 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 14 RBIs, 11 walks, 27 strikeouts, .302 average

Murphy 2008: 49 games, 131 at-bats, 24 runs, 41 hits, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 17 RBIs, 18 walks, 28 strikeouts, .313 average

2009 Projected: 81 games, 180 at-bats, 47 runs, 77 hits, 14 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home runs, 27 RBIs, 29 walks, 39 strikeouts, .289 average

#4 New York Mets Position Battles: Right Field-Fantasy Baseball 2009

Ryan Church

Fernando Tatis

Ryan Church will have the job to start but it is his job to lose... if he starts to swing a cold bat watch for Manuel to quickly insert Tatis to give the lineup a little spark.

Church 2008: 90 games, 319 at-bats, 54 runs, 88 hits, 14 doubles, 1 triple, 12 home runs, 49 RBIs, 33 walks, 83 strikeouts, .276 average

Projected 2009: 131 games, 488 at-bats, 72 runs, 123 hits, 20 doubles, 2 triples, 15 home runs, 81 RBIs, 44 walks, 100 strikeouts, .271 average

Tatis 2008: 92 games, 273 at-bats, 33 runs, 81 hits, 16 doubles, 1 triple, 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, 29 walks, 59 strikeouts, .297 average

Projected 2009: 31 games, 84 at-bats, 20 runs, 25 hits, 4 doubles, 0 triples, 4 home runs, 21 RBIs, 9 walks, 15 strikeouts, .253 average

#4 New York Mets Position Battles: Catcher-Fantasy Baseball 2009

Brian Schneider

Robinson Cancel

Ramon Castro

This battle is not for 1^st string catcher but for 2^nd string. Both Cancel and Castro proved their worth last season when Schneider went down a few weeks.

Cancel 2008: 27 games, 49 at-bats, 5 runs, 12 hits, 2 doubles, 0 triples, 1 home run, 5 RBIs, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, .245 average

Projected 2009: 40 games, 77 at-bats, 17 runs, 33 hits, 4 doubles, 0 triples, 3 home runs, 22 RBIs, 7 walks, 10 strikeouts, .270 average

Castro 2008: 52 games, 143 at-bats, 15 runs, 35 hits, 7 doubles, 0 triples, 7 home runs, 24 RBIs, 13 walks, 34 strikeouts, .245 average

Projected 2009: DNP (AAA or released)

#5 New York Mets Position Battles: 2^nd Base-Fantasy Baseball 2009

Luis Castillo

Free-Agent*

The fifth battle would be one that could occur sometime soon. Luis Castillo wins the job right now because of the lack of competition for the job. Orlando Hudson is a free agent out there and could land with the Mets.

Castillo 2008: 87 games, 298 at-bats, 46 runs, 73 hits, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 28 RBIs, 50 walks, 35 strikeouts, .245 average, 17 stolen bases

Projected 2009: 148 games, 543 at-bats, 100 runs, 163 hits, 19 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 40 RBIs, 75 walks, 50 strikeouts, .270 average, 35 stolen bases