One of the Mets biggest needs this offseason was another starting pitcher.A The Mets lacked a strong pitcher after Johan Santana.A If they would be able to acquire a strong number two pitcher, then it would've totally changed people's views of the team.

For much of the offseason, the Mets have talked about acquiring a starting pitcher, but they have missed out on several hurlers they liked.

Ben Sheets won't be a Met. Didn't think he would be, and I wasn't thinking he should be except for a song.

John Smoltz in his brief time with the Cardinals. He won one game there. John Smoltz had an intriguing 2009: Left the Braves, ripped Frank Wren, signed with the Red Sox, got cut in August, signed with the Cardinals, did a bit better, pitched two relief innings in postseason as the team got swept, filed for free agency.

Jason Bay talks to the media during a press conference to announce his signing to the New York Mets on January 5, 2010 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

He usually doesn't wear the helmet. The Mets are hanging out in Port St. Lucie at their voluntary minicamp this week, and if you want to know just how voluntary it is, the best position player there is Daniel Murphy.

The A's, Rangers and Mets are among teams considering free agent pitcher Ben Sheets, who raised his value with what was described by several scouts as an excellent showcase last week in Monroe, La.

Nice to know the principal owner, John Henry , approves of all the check-writing. "I believe the 2010 club on paper is stronger than 2009," said Henry in an e-mail exchange yesterday.

The Yankees pursued John Smoltz doggedly earlier this offseason, a source told Newsday, and it didn't mark the first time they did so.

Those who have visited this space in the past know that I'm no fan of Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell.

Terry Francona was amused, perhaps, by all the fuss, but he wasn't surprised. Heading into his seventh season as manager of the Red Sox - only Joe Cronin has held the toughest job in New England more consecutive years - Francona has developed a pretty good read on a region where the mere move of a young outfielder can spark debate equal to a Senate ...

Beltre will wear No. 29 this season. Hitting coach Dave Magadan and John Smoltz wore No.

According to one baseball official, the New York Mets are considering adding John Smoltz.

When did Theo Epstein become so smug? If you listen to the Boston GM these days, his off-season moves were just short of scintillating and have the Red Sox poised for a big run in 2010.

Today, I talked to an agent, a person with another team, and someone connected to the Mets, and all three believe free-agent pitchers Joel Pineiro , Jon Garland , Jarrod Washburn and Doug Davis all might end up accepting a one or two-year deal.

In the interest of full disclosure, Ia TMm the same guy who said heading into last season that I thought the Red Sox had made enough savvy moves to challenge the Yankees for the pennant.

NL Central Off Seasons I'm still not sold that John Smoltz would want to take a role in the bullpen, but if he will, that would be awesome.

"If you combine the two they have more..." Yes, if you combine Cameron and Hermida, they have 1 more hr, 23 more runs, and 12 fewer rbi than Bay, and it only took them 418 more at bats, and 127 more games played, to compile those numbers.

While the calendar year will be placed in their rear-view mirrors, the Braves will look back at 2009 as a year that may have marked the start of something special.

So what do we have here? Jason Bay seems gone. John Lackey and Mike Cameron are aboard.