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The New York Mets are the focus of today's MLB Team Preview. New York has finished in second place each of the last two seasons, and are the favorites to win the NL East according to Las Vegas betting lines. Bullpen trouble and whether they were "chokers" were the questions entering this offseason, the Mets answered the bullpen questions emphatically, now they have one BIG question remaining.

The New York Mets

Last Season’s Result: 89-73, Second place in the NL East.

Major Offseason Changes

• Added RP Francisco Rodriguez (Signed from Anaheim)
• Added RP JJ Putz (Trade from Seattle)
• Added SS Alex Cora (Signed from Boston)
• Added SP Tim Redding (Signed from Washington)
• Added SP Freddy Garcia (Signed from Detroit to minor league contract)
• Added SP Livan Hernandez (Signed from Colorado to minor league contract)
• Lost RP Luis Ayala (Signed with Minnesota)
• Lost LF Moises Alou (Unsigned Free Agent)
• Lost SP Pedro Martinez (Unsigned Free Agent)
• Lost RP Aaron Heilman (Trade to Seattle)
• Lost OF Endy Chavez (Trade to Seattle)
• Lost RP Joe Smith (Trade to Cleveland)

Letter Grades

• Offseason Moves: B+ The Mets biggest problem of 2008 has been solved, as they strengthened the back of their bullpen by raiding the AL West and bringing over Rodriguez and Putz. The trade for Putz cost them two of their most important middle inning relief pitchers in Smith and Heilman, and The Mets will have to find somebody to make up for those 160 appearances. I like Oliver Perez’ potential, and you can’t have enough lefties against the Phillies, but $36 million was way too much to invest. Conversely, the Mets shrewdly signed a trio of former major league starters to cheap minor league deals in the hope one of them can make a comeback. Garcia, Hernandez, and Casey Fossum will get looks in the spring and if they shine they’ll come north, and if not then no harm/no foul. It appears Garcia is the most likely to stick around.

• Rotation Grade: B+ The best pitcher in the game (although one more year from Lincecum may cost him that title.) Johan Santana heads a fine staff that features two guys in Perez and Maine who at 27-years old are reaching their primes as MLB pitchers. If either man is ever going to step up, shake off their inconsistency, and become a star, this season should be the start.

• Bullpen Grade: A- The Mets decided to trade in two work horses and replaced them with studs. The depth and middle innings are shaky, but you can’t question the combo of Putz in the 8th inning, K-Rod in the 9th.

• Lineup Grade: B- Beltran, Wright and Reyes are marvels, and each among the best at his position. The other five spots in the lineup are question marks at best, since Carlos Delgado was the only other Met to reach 350 at-bats last season.

Player most closely linked to team’s 2009 hopes: Carlos Delgado. With uncertainty at the corner OF spots, and below-average production from 2B and C, the Mets need another run producer. If Delgado can be that guy then the offense should be again among the tops in the NL, if not then this lineup may struggle to score at times.

Biggest Breakout Star Potential: Daniel Murphy. Murphy saw his first big league action in 2008, and performed very well hitting .313 in 131 at-bats. Murphy has basically been handed the starting gig in LF, if he continues to hit he’ll become a mainstay in the Mets lineup for years to come.

Best Case Scenario: Santana wins the Cy Young, a second Ace emerges from the middle of their rotation, one of the big three wins MVP, K-Rod and Putz only blow 5 leads all season, and the Mets run away with the East.

Worst Case Scenario: Normally on a team with a few question marks like this one the worst case would be for all the question marks go to the negative and the team flounders at around .500. Not this team, The worst case is obvious, to play great baseball up through August, only to lose their NL East lead to the Phillies once again, and then again fail to reach the postseason.

Prediction for 2009: 91 wins. Wildcard team in the playoffs.

Local Thoughts: We have a pair of Mets Bloggers for today's column

By: Eric Simon, Manager of SB Nation Baseball and writer of www.AmazinAvenue.com

• Letter Grade for Offseason Moves: B-. Reliever deals were solid, bench signings look iffy, signing Oliver Perez instead of Derek Lowe was silly, failure to acquire an impact bat in a buyer's market might've been a misstep.

• Most Essential:Johan Santana. If he goes, all the starting pitching depth in the world won't replace his production.

• Breakout Potential: Probably Jose Reyes because he's still young and his ceiling is so high. Daniel Murphy could be a nice surprise.

• Prediction for 2009: 93-69, first place in the NL East. It'll be a close race but I'm not averse to wishcasting a bit here.

Here's our second set of Mets thoughts, By: Dominick DiFucci of www.ddmetsfanblog.com

• Letter Grade for Offseason Moves: B-

• Most Essential: Luis Castillo

• Breakout Potential: Jose Reyes

• Prediction for 2009: If everything goes right, 100-62