Mets notes: Francoeur, Cordero, Oswalt

- According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the New York Mets are trying to trade right fielder and now fourth outfielder, Jeff Francoeur. Francoeur, 26, has been the Mets' starting right fielder since coming over in a trade from the Atlanta Braves in 2009 and was the starter this year. However, a starting outfielder his whole career, Francoeur has lost substantial amounts of playing time to sit on the bench in favor of Carlos Beltran, the Mets' highest paid player and star center fielder, who returned from arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday.

Angel Pagan, who was acquired before the 2008 season in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, replaced Beltran in center field until his return and now has taken over everyday duties in right field due to his breakout season and strong play. In 2010, Francoeur is hitting a measly .243/.295/.378 and has an OPS of just .673 (the second lowest of his career) with 8 home runs (he hit 29 in 2006, but hasn't hit 20 since) and 42 RBIs while striking out 56 times in 336 plate appearances compared to the 28 year-old Pagan's line of .311/.367/.480, .847 OPS, with also 8 home runs, 44 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and just 50 strikeouts in 359 plate appearances while also playing better defense with a .991 fielding percentage compared to a .984 %. Francoeur strikes out an average of 117 times per season.

Mets' Manager Jerry Manuel has also shown a greater liking to playing Pagan. Pagan is a better defensive player who is also faster on the base paths as well as in the outfield. He's also a better selective hitter than the free swinging Francoeur. Francoeur is also a good defensive player who has a Roberto Clemente-esque type arm, meaning it's a cannon. "Frenchy" started the season on a tear, but cooled off in May and has slumped since.

According to Puma, "the team is trying to trade the right fielder, and could have a deal in place by the time the Mets finish their series in Los Angeles this weekend.

Francoeur would welcome a trade, according to a person friendly with the right fielder, if it gave him a chance to play every day."

Francoeur makes $5 million this season, with just $2 million remaining for the season. He's a eligible to be tendered a contract through arbitration, but most think that he could be a non-tender candidate if he continues to struggle. Once a promising top prospect in the Atlanta Braves' organization (and he's from Georgia, how much better could it get? Can you say Jason Heyward?), a first round draft pick who went 23rd overall, Francoeur showed flashes of potential early in his career from 2005-2007, his best years, but he lost his power to try to improve his plate discipline and has been a below 20 home run hitter with a poor average ever since.

2005, his rookie year, he hit .300 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs in 70 games, impressing scouts and finishing third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after being named the Braves best prospect before the season by Baseball America. 2006, his first full season, he hit .260 with a career-high 29 home runs while driving in 103 RBIs, living up to the hype that surrounded him coming out of the minors. It looked like the best of Frenchy was to come. In 2007, Francoeur's average rose to .293, but the home run total went down to 19 and his RBI total was finalized at 105 for the season. For the 2008 season, many thought it would be the season that Francoeur would put average, power and driving in runs all together for a monster season. However, Francoeur struggled in 2008, hitting just .239 with 11 home runs and 71 RBIs. 2009 wouldn't get any better for Frenchy, as he struggled early and hit .250 with 5 home runs and 35 RBIs for the Braves before being traded to the Mets for Ryan Church on July 11. New York was where he improved, hitting .311 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs putting his season total at .280, 15 home runs and 76 RBIs. Francoeur has driven in just an average of 63 RBI since 2008 and hasn't driven in 100 or more RBI since 2007, when he drove in a career-best 105.

Jeff is a great clubhouse guy, is very durable (he played 162 games, two full seasons, back to back years in 2006/2007 which were his best seasons), and could still be a great player. He's still just 26 and is still loaded with the potential that he had earlier in his career. I could see him going back to being a 30 HR and 100 RBI guy if he can fix up his swing and his plate discipline. Always one of my favorite Mets (I don't have a lot), I hope he does well elsewhere and gets to start if he is traded. I also hope he proves the Mets wrong. A contending team could definitely use him.

The Bleacher Report suggests that a trade of Francoeur to the New York Yankees makes the most sense in that Francoeur, who could greatly help the Yankees improve their bench, can rotate with center fielder Curtis Granderson and start against lefties, Granderson's weakness, while Granderson starts against right handers, Francoeur's weakness. In essence, if it were to happen, Francoeur would play left field on days lefties would pitch, pushing Brett Gardner to center field on those days. Frenchy, according to the article, would be filling an Eric Hinske-type role for the Yankees. He would come cheaply and would be a great clubhouse guy to go along with Nick Swisher to form great chemistry in the Yankees' clubhouse.

- In other news, the Mets signed right handed relief pitcher and former Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals stellar closer Chad Cordero to a minor league contract. He will head to Triple-AAA Buffalo. Cordero, 28, had labrum surgery two years ago after the start of the 2008 season. The rehab time and uncertainty of his effectiveness led to his release from the Nationals. Cordero, who was one of the top National League closers before the surgery, saved 128 games for the Nats/Expos, including 47 saves in 2005 as a 23 year-old with a 1.82 ERA, his best season. Cordero missed the entire 2009 season rehabbing and was signed by the Seattle Mariners prior to the start of the 2010 season. In nine games with Seattle, Cordero-as most pitchers who have shoulder surgery do-struggled, posting a 6.52 ERA while allowing 10 hits, 7 earned runs, 5 walks, 1 home run, and getting 6 strike outs in 9.2 innings before being optioned back to Triple-AAA on July 15th. Rather an accept another minor league assignment, Cordero opted for free agency and the Mets pounced, hoping Cordero would be the missing piece to improve their bullpen. Omar Minaya, former Expos' GM and now Mets' GM, drafted Cordero 20th overall in 2003 and always liked Cordero. The Mets expect a short-term minor league assignment before Cordero joins the team's bullpen.

- According to multiple sources over the past few days, the Philadelphia Phillies, who sit just a half game back of the Mets in the NL East standings at 48-46, have inquired on Houston Astros' pitching ace Roy Oswalt to try to trade for him to improve their rotation. Oswalt however, recently expressed his preference to play in St. Louis for the Cardinals, who, reportedly, are in talks to acquire the right hander built around a package that includes top pitching prospect Shelby Miller. Talks are currently at an impasse over salary, but officials suggest that a deal could get done. The Phillies are still monitoring the talks and are actively involved in trying to trade for Oswalt. If acquired by the Phillies, Oswalt joins a potentially threatening rotation that includes Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and now J.A. Happ/Vance Worley. The Mets would need to trade for another top flight pitcher if Oswalt were to be acquired by the Phillies (it looks more like he's going to St. Louis) in order to maintain second place. Around The Horn Baseball thinks that Francoeur, along with top pitching prospect Jenrry Mejia, could be headed to Houston soon so that the Mets could acquire Oswalt.

Why the New York Mets will win the NL East

It pains me to say this, being a die-hard Yankee fan, but it must be said:

The New York Mets are going to be champions of the National League East.

No, I haven't drank or smoked anything funny, and no I wasn't recently dropped on my head. The way the Mets have played recently, being eight games over the .500 mark and .5 games out of first place, has proven to me that these are not the same Mets as last season. After two collapses in a row in 2007 & 2008, the 2009 Mets were a disaster. Injuries left and right, running into bad luck, and scrubs taking the place of super stars. This season however, many analysts, including myself, predicted that the Mets would finish in the cellar of the NL East. The way they've played recently though has made us all look foolish.

The Mets entered this season with low expectations, a questionable rotation, and unknowing when two major components, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, would return or if they would return. Reyes came back earlier than expected, but it seemed to have no effect. With a pitching rotation coming undone with poor starts and injuries by John Maine and Oliver Perez it seemed as though the 2010 Mets would just be another repeat of the '09 disaster. However, not all hope was lost, thanks to the emergence of Mike Pelfrey and rookie phenoms first baseman Ike Davis and RHP Jenrry Mejia.

Since the beginning of the season, Pelfrey has proven to be the Mets' best pitcher. Compiling a 9-1 record with a 2.39 ERA to this point of the season, Pelfrey has proven he is the Mets' big game pitcher. After ending 2009 with a 10-12 record and an ERA of 5.03, Pelfrey seeked redemption going into this year. Many wondered if he would even make it as the Mets' fifth starter due to his poor spring training. To this point of the season, Pelfrey has made each who thought this face-palm themselves.

Then there was the emergence of Ike Davis. The Mets' top prospect made his debut on April 19, and provided a spark plug for this Mets' team. The young first baseman is currently batting .253 with 8 home runs while currently adjusting to major league pitching. Many argued that Davis should have opened the season with the club, to which Jerry Manuel agreed after he was called up. All Davis has done since his call-up is provide the Mets with acrobatic plays and a towering walk off home run. You can't help but think that he will be in the Rookie of the Year discussion. But there's more...

Enter Jenrry Mejia. The Mets' top pitching prospect who skipped AAA, and went straight to the pros. Oh, by the way, he's only 20. He's pitched to an eye-popping 3.04 ERA out of the bullpen for the Mets, who figure him to be a starter down the road. With all the youth on this team, the future looks bright for these Mets.

And then there are the afterthoughts who've stepped up: Angel Pagan, Jon Niese, Rod Barajas, and R.A. Dickey. Pagan, who enjoyed a nice season last year, is currently filling in for Carlos Beltran. However, due to recent setbacks, Pagan may be more than just a fill-in. He's hitting a surprising .281 in a full time role with 4 dingers on the year while playing outstanding defense. Jon Niese, who was always a Mets top prospect and on their radar has really stepped it up this season, pitching to a 3-2 record with a 3.61 ERA while battling some hamstring issues. Then there's Rod Barajas, who the Mets signed to a minor league contract in spring training. He's slugging at a .257 mark with 11, yes 11, home runs on the year. Getting that production out of a minor league signing is a steal. But wait, what about R.A. Dickey, a journeyman who was called up on May 19 to make a spot start? The knuckle baller is 4-0, (4-0!!!) with a 2.78 ERA. In his career, Dickey's lowest ERA was 4.62! What's more impressive? He's pitching better than Red Sox pitcher John Lackey, who Met fans begged ownership to sign. Feels good saving money right? His emergence in the Mets rotation has been a good luck charm for the Mets. Not so much afterthoughts anymore.

Perhaps the most amazing part of the 2010 Mets' season: 36.2 scoreless innings pitched. For a team with a questionable rotation coming into 2010, that's pretty darn amazing. It all started when they swept the Phillies from May 25-27 without allowing the Phillies to score in all 3 games. Remember, these are the Phillies we're talking about here, the 2009 NL Champions, and they got shut out by...the Mets?! However, this streak game to an end in the 9th inning against the Brewers when Corey Hart hit a walk off home run to beat the Mets. Then there was the 20 inning game against the St. Louis Cardinals, which the Mets won in the 20th inning. If there's one thing to say about these 2010 Mets, it is that they grind out at-bats, have great starting pitching and have great team chemistry this year.

No matter how good these Mets have been this year, they are far from a perfect team. Jason Bay isn't hitting at all. The power bat that the Mets signed for $66 million in the off season has hit just 4, that's right 4, home runs this year after hitting 36 for the Red Sox last year. One could argue that spacious Citi Field could be playing into effect, but that hasn't stopped Rod Barajas and David Wright from hitting 11 and 12 home runs respectively. Obviously there is something wrong with Bay's swing. Jose Reyes has not been the same Jose Reyes from 2008. Then there is the uncertainty of Francisco Rodriguez. While the season save record holder has pitched to a 2-1 record with a 2.36 ERA and 14 saves, he has made Mets fans all but confident when the 9th inning comes around. This year, we've seen him give up runs in the 9th allowing other teams to either win or tie a game. Most prominently, we've seen K-Rod give up the long ball, 3 to be exact to go along with 12 walks. Not what you want from a closer. There's also John Maine, the owner of a 6.13 ERA and who's suffered various shoulder setbacks this season. He's already been bumped from the rotation, and will probably remain in the bullpen when he returns. Daniel Murphy, who tore his MCL is done for the season. And do I really have to even mention Oliver Perez? He's been just dreadful and the Mets put him on the DL just to get him off the team. Sheesh.

There's been many bright spots for this Mets team this year. Chemisty, youth, and good pitching has put the Mets at a 36-28 record.

But even with all these good signs that have pointed to the Mets success this season, there's still one more component that can make this team even better, and not only NL East champions, but a World Series contender as well...
The Mets will trade for an elite starting pitcher.

Both Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt, two of baseball's elite pitchers, are available in trade for the price of who-can-give-the-best prospects. Don't think for a second that the Mets haven't already touched base with the Mariners and Astros.

With the Yankees' recent World Championship, the Mets had been an afterthought in New York City, acting the role of the forgotten team. You can imagine that acquiring Lee or Oswalt would take the spot light off the World Champs and put it on the team in Queens. With the Phillies sliding and the Mets only .5 games behind the Braves for first place, acquiring either of the pitchers to go along with a rotation that would include Johan Santana and Pelfrey would make for the best rotation in the NL East. Not just the NL East, but probably it'd be the best rotation in the National League. The Mets have reportedly touched base with both teams and have been discussing a deal with both sides. Roy Oswalt recently said that he would accept a trade to the Mets due to their strong play lately and chance to contend. Personally, as I've stated before, I think Oswalt would be the best fit for the Mets. Acquiring either would make the Mets a powerhouse team and a force to be reckoned with.

Whether it's Lee or Oswalt, one thing is for sure:

It will get done, and you can bet on it, no matter the cost.

The Mets are already a good team, and adding Lee/Oswalt would only make them a better team. It'd make the Mets true World Series contenders. Adding Lee/Oswalt to a core that already includes Jose Reyes, David Wright, Johan Santana, Ike Davis and Mike Pelfrey would make for a truly outstanding team with great potential. We've seen the Amazin's like never before this year, but be prepared because it's only going to get better.

Get ready baseball fans, introducing your 2010 NL East champs:

The New York Mets.

This is no fluke, this is a comeback.

That is why the New York Mets will win the NL East in 2010.