Looking Forward to 2008: New York Mets

The New York Mets had one of the biggest collapses in 2007, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to win the NL East, resulting in the Mets missing the playoffs.

General Manager Omar Minaya needed to make sure that didn't happen again in 2008. Though their offseason seemed like it was going to go by without a major move, that move came, and what a big one it was.

The Mets sent Carlos Gomez, Deolis Guerra, Kevin Mulvey and Phil Humber to Minnesota for right-hander Johan Santana, a player that a lot of baseball writers and fans would end up with Boston or the Yankees.

When you have a rotation that starts with Santana and follows with young John Maine, that's not a bad 1-2 punch in the NL East.

Arrivals:

C Brian Schneider

OF Ryan Church

C Johnny Estrada

RHP Matt Wise

RHP Brian Stokes

RHP Steven Register

OF Angel Pagan

Departures:

LHP Glavine

C Paul Lo Duca

OF Lastings Milledg

RHP Mota

C Estrada

RHP Juan Padilla

RF/1B Green

2B Jose Valentin

INF/OF David Newhan

LHP Dave Williams

C Sandy Alomar Jr.

C Mike DiFelice

1B/OF Jeff Conine

RHP Aaron Sele

OF Ben Johnson

On the offensive side of the ball, the Mets should be just as strong as they were last season. Start things with outfielders Carlos Beltran and Moises Alou, 1st baseman Carlos Delgado, 3rd baseman David Wright and SS Jose Reyes, there really isn't that much to worried about.

The biggest question mark for the Mets is the back end of their rotation. How will Oliver Perez, Orlando Hernandez and possibly Mike Pelfrey be in the 3,4 and 5 spots?

Prediction Time:

The Phillies are the defending NL East Champions, and although the Mets have reloaded, I just don't know how their pitching staff will hold up through the entire 2008 season. The Mets should be the team to beat in the NL East, but the Phillies will give them a heck of a run.

Mets - 92 - 70