Poll Results: If you could sign just one free agent…

In my last poll, I asked my readers to pick a free agent to sign if they could have only one of them.  The options: Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, John Lackey, Joel Pineiro, Orlando Hudson and Chone Figgins.

Here are the results…Holliday and Lackey were far and away the leaders in this poll, as you can see.

If you voted (or even if you didn’t), what was your reasoning for your pick?

Next Poll: Do you trust Omar Minaya?

Six Mets file for FA

The old guys want out.

The Mets that filed for free agency: Moises Alou (42), Pedro Martinez (37), Tony Armas, Jr. (30), Luis Ayala (30), Ramon Martinez (36) and Ricardo Rincon (38).

These six players ages add up to 213 years, for a mean age of 35.5.

No way Alou comes back. No chance. He can still hit, but he can't stay healthy at all. R. Martinez and Rincon are as good as gone, too.

I took a long look at Pedro and don't expect him to come back, but he might. It's a toss-up. (There are some great comments on that article. Worth a look.)

Ayala could return, but I doubt it. I think the Mets would rather shed the old bullpen and bring in new players instead of re-signing the players that made it terrible. Armas could end up in AAA with a minor league deal, as he wasn't half bad when the Mets needed him.

Don't be surprised when none of these players return in 2009.

Perez, Easley and Wise file for FA

Oliver Perez, Damion Easley and Matt Wise (remember him?) all filed for free agency on Thursday. The Mets have 15 days to negotiate with these players, and any other players who file from the 2008 team.

Do not expect Perez to sign any time soon. His agent is Scott Boras, which means they're going to play the field and wait for the highest possible bidder. The Mets will make a play for him, but it will be a very drawn out process.

Other pitchers that could fill the two voids: Jon Garland, Derek Lowe or Randy Wolf.

Easley is a tough one. He was great off the bench and filled in at second base when Luis Castillo went down with an injury. Anderson Hernandez also saw time at 2B, but his light hitting gave Easley an opening. He's getting up there in age, but he's a tough veteran, who has been with the team for a few years. He might be cursed though, as he still hasn't played in a postseason game.

I can see the team bringing him back, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's not a Met when Citi Field opens.

And then there's Wise. He only appeared in eight games last season after signing a $1.2 million contract. Don't expect him back. You might see him on a milk carton sometime soon, though.

5 Mets file for Free Agency

Mets.com says "The five Mets who filed were Cliff Floyd, Steve Trachsel, Ricky Ledee, Orlando Hernandez and Chris Woodward."

what to do with them...

Floyd-- maybe a one year deal. if not...Hey Cliff, want to coach??

Trachsel-- No thank you!

Ledee-- not in a million years.

Hernandez-- Would love to see him back. 2 year deal?

Woodward-- where were you this year?!? maybe a 2 year deal, $1 mil...