The NY Mets have sewed up their bullpen for the time being. The focus now comes to their starting rotation. The staples are set, and the Mets have their rotation closing in on being locked up.

The real key will be the starter the Mets acquire in the off-season. Oliver Perez appears to think he's worth more than he is. This attitude is having an adverse effect however, and the NY Mets executives aren't biting. Instead the Mets exec's are hoping to lock up a reliable 2nd or 3rd guy in the rotation to take Perez's place.

Derek Lowe has never been a "wow" kinda guy, other than his 21 win season in Boston in 2002. A sinker baller ground out specialist should be the title of the guy's resume. What most people don't focus on is his ability to eat quality innings throughout the year. Derek Lowe has averaged 208 innings per season for the past seven seasons. While Johan Santana has averaged 238 innings over the past five seasons, no other Mets starting pitcher even comes close to that kind of consistency.

Consistency is exactly what the Mets need in their rotation. To be able to throw Johan and an inning eating Derek Lowe on the hill twice a week would be a big advantage to our bullpen. Getting those guys additional rest should help slow down the rapid deterioration we have seen over the past two seasons.

Randy Wolf is the other candidate the Mets are considering acquiring this winter. While Wolf will help keep the Mets closer to their budget goals, his ceiling is much lower than Lowe's. Wolf has only won more than 12 games in a season once in his career, in 2003 with the Phillies. He averages a little over 140.0 innings per season, and his career ERA is over 4.20.

I'm sorry, but not only does Randy Wolf suck worse than Oliver Perez, but he was drafted and played for the Phillies for the first eight years of his professional career. The last guy we took out of the NL East who bled his former team's colors, tossed a stinker out on the last day of the 2007 season and cost us a playoff berth. Sure as anything, Glavine left shortly there after to go back to the team that raised him.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd rather see Oliver Perez lose his mind every 4th start than let Randy Wolf throw batting practice to his former mates in Philly.