It just never seemed to end for the Mets in 2009. And it's already continuing into 2010.

This ship is still sinking, as if it hasn't already sunk already. Many of the Mets ... no, all of the Mets' early round Fantasy picks went bust last year. Jose B. Reyes (hamstring), David Wright (power outage -- thanks CitiField), Johan Santana (elbow), Carlos Beltran (knee), Francisco J. Rodriguez (back, and then a mystery loss of stuff) and Carlos Delgado (hip) all lost time to injury and saw their Fantasy value dwindle back to mediocre at best.

But it is a new year, right? Well, not so far. Beltran needed sugery late in the winter that could sideline him into May, if not longer.

This is what you get with older Fantasy picks: age and injury risk.

The Mets' top-shelf talent does have tons of potential. If they could only stay healthy and figure a way to make CitiField a place to dominate, they could qualify as bargains on Draft Day.

After the Beltran news, though, you just have to continue to expect the worst.

Sleeper: Jeff Francoeur, OF

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Francoeur has had big years before, but he was in the Braves' doghouse before a July trade to the Mets that revived his run-producing potential. He hit .311 with 10 homers, 41 RBI and 40 runs in 75 games with the Mets -- mostly with a torn thumb ligament that required a surgical transplant in the offseason. Frenchy looks like a classic case of change of scenery, because the spacious CitiField had adverse effects on everyone else with the Mets last year. The word is, a big reason they signed Bay, is right-handed pull hitters play in this park, so Frenchy could be due for a career year. It might also surprise you he is merely 26, ready to start his prime. Francoeur is a breakout candidate numbers-wise, but he also qualifies as a sleeper because he could be had with a late-round pick or a $1 bid in most drafts at this point.

Bust: Francisco J. Rodriguez, RP

It is always difficult projecting busts, because you shouldn't be able to see them coming. K-Rod has been in decline since his record-breaking year and then fell apart at times along with the Mets last year. In fact, he was the only pitcher in baseball to give up not one, but two, walkoff grand slams. That's tough to do. K-Rod is no longer the top closer on the board, in fact he is barely top five, but he performed like someone in the middle of the pack at best in his first year with the Mess, err Mets. If someone is seeing the pre-declining K-Rod and picking him among the elite closers, those Fantasy owners will be left very disappointed. He can still be good, but he is no longer great in our book.

Breakout: John Maine, SP

It was very, very difficult to select a breakout candidate among the Mets, mostly because so many of them are has-beens and maybe never-will-be's. A breakout is supposed to be good first and then ready to become great. Maine, who has battled shoulder woes the past two seasons, should have been and still hasn't. Perhaps it could come this year. You will still be able to get Maine late, perhaps after Draft Day in mixed leagues altogether because the injury risk is dragging him down, so we still have to clarify this breakout pick as more of a sleeper than anything.

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New York Mets Outlook
Projected lineup
Pos.
Projected Rotation
1 Luis Castillo 2B 1 Johan Santana LH
2 Daniel Murphy 1B 2 John Maine RH
3 Jose B. Reyes SS 3 Mike Pelfrey RH
4 David Wright 3B 4 Oliver Perez LH
5 Jason Bay LF 5 Jonathon Niese LH
6 Jeff Francoeur RF Alt Fernando Nieve RH
7 Rod Barajas C Top bullpen arms
8 Angel Pagan CF CL Francisco J. Rodriguez RH
Top bench options SU Ryota Igarashi RH
R Carlos Beltran OF RP Kelvim Escobar RH
R Gary Matthews OF RP Pedro Feliciano LH
R Mike Jacobs 1B RP Bobby Parnell RH
Rookies/Prospects Age Pos. 2009 high Destination
1 Isaac Davis 23 1B Double-A Triple-A
His power picked up considerably last season, so he could be a starter for the Mets come '11, or late even '10.
2 Fernando Martinez 21 OF Majors Triple-A
He got a look in the injury-hit Mets outfield last year before knee surgery ended his season. Plenty left to prove.
3 Jonathon Niese 23 LH SP Majors Triple-A
We expect the Mets to slot him back in Triple-A or the minors, but he was good enough to stick pre-injury.
4 Jenrry Mejia 20 RH SP Double-A Double-A
Prospect hounds love seeing teenagers in the high levels; he could compete for a bullpen spot this spring.
5 Bradley Holt 23 RH SP Double-A Double-A
Holt was injured and didn't impress in Double-A, so he figures to head back there to start the season.
Best of the rest: Wilmer Flores, 2B; Reese Havens, SS; Josh Thole, C; Ruben Tejada, SS; Juan Urbina, SP; Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF; Cesar Puello, OF; Steve Matz, SP; Jefry Marte, 3B; Tobi Stoner, SP; Dillon Gee, SP; Scott Moviel, SP; Brant Rustich, RP; Eddie Kunz, RP; Mike Antonini, SP; Shawn Bowman, 3B; Francisco Pena, C; Nick Carr, SP; Nathan Vineyard, SP; Zach Lutz, 3B; Robbie Shields, SS; Darrell Ceciliani, OF; Lucas Duda, OF; Scott Shaw, SP; Elvin Ramirez, SP; Javier Rodriguez, OF; and Eddie Lora, 1B.

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