2006 Offseason
The Mets’ high hopes for the 2006 postseason were thwarted on September 29, 2006 when it was announced that ace Pedro Martínez was done for the remainder of the year due to a left calf muscle strain. Later it was announced that Pedro would have to undergo rotator cuff surgery and would miss a sizable portion of the 2007 season. On October 3, the day before his game 1 NLDS start, it was announced that Orlando Hernández tweaked his right calf muscle while jogging in the outfield at Shea. He wouldn’t be able to pitch again until the 2007 season.
Coming into the 2006 offseason, it was clear that the team's biggest need was pitching. Pedro would return, but in what condition? El-Duque was a question mark with his age and veteran Steve Trachsel guaranteed his departure with a Game 3 NLCS meltdown. Omar Minaya, the Mets’ General Manager, made it clear that his first order of business concerned their in-house free agents including: Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernández, and Chad Bradford. The Mets also went hard after Japanese SP Daisuke Matsuzaka. On November 14, the Boston Red Sox outbid the Mets $51.1 million to ~$39 million for negotiating rights to Matsuzaka. Also on this day, the Mets tendered contracts to Orlando Hernández and 37-year-old José Valentín. Two days later 37-year-old Damion Easley was acquired as a fourth outfielder and to occasionally spell Valentín at second base. 40-year-old slugger Moisés Alou was signed to replace Cliff Floyd in left field. On December 1, with the hopes of winning his 300th game, Tom Glavine signed a single year contract. The Mets also had their eyes on free agent SP Barry Zito who eventually ended up with the San Francisco Giants after signing the largest contract ever for a pitcher at the time in MLB history. Former All-Star pitcher Chan-ho Park was also signed but lasted only one poor start before being released.
The biggest changes took place in the bullpen. The Mets lost Chad Bradford, Roberto Hernández, and Darren Oliver to free agency. The Mets also initiated a series of questionable moves where young bullpen arms were traded away. Heath Bell and Royce Ring were packaged in a deal to San Diego for outfielder Ben Johnson and reliever Jon Adkins. Hard throwers Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom were traded to the Florida Marlins for lefties Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick. Serviceable starter Brian Bannister was traded to the Kansas City Royals for the 23 year old flame thrower Ambiorix Burgos. The worst news came with the loss of pitchers Duaner Sánchez and Juan Padilla. Sánchez, who had recovered from a mid-2006 taxicab accident and signed a new contract, was sidelined after reinjuring his shoulder during Spring Training. In addition, newly signed Guillermo Mota was suspended for the first 50 games of the regular season for steroid use. The Mets were forced to rely on mainstays Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman, and Pedro Feliciano in addition to new acquisitions: veteran reliever Scott Schoeneweis and veteran starter-turned-reliever Aaron Sele. The remaining spots were populated by rookie Joe Smith and Ambiorix Burgos.
The 2007 Mets began the season much older and untested than the 2006 team. The starting pitching wasn’t improved. Old veterans Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernández appeared at the top of the rotation followed by question marks: John Maine and Óliver Pérez. It was unknown how healthy Glavine and Hernandez would be by the end of the season. It was also unknown if Maine and Perez would continue to improve after their postseason successes and if they could handle the load of pitching a full season. The fifth spot was given to rookie Mike Pelfrey. The lineup also aged dramatically with the inclusion of Alou and Easley to a roster already containing Julio Franco, José Valentín, Carlos Delgado, and Paul Lo Duca. The bullpen lost valuable arms in Chad Bradford, Darren Oliver, and Duaner Sánchez. By the time it became apparent that Sanchez and Padilla would be unable to pitch, the Mets had already traded away Heath Bell and Henry Owens. Both had the experience and ability to step in and contribute on a major league level.
Read more about this topic: 2007 New York Mets Season