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2005 finish: 83-79, tied for 3^rd place in NL East

Manager: Willie Randolph (2^nd season)

Free agents: C Mike Piazza, RHP Braden Looper, RHP Roberto Hernandez, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, IF Marlon Anderson, IF Miguel Cairo, RHP Danny Graves, IF Jose Offerman, OF Gerald Williams, C Mike DeFelice, LHP Felix Heredia, LHP Kaz Ishii

On the block: 2B Kaz Matsui, OF Mike Cameron

Looking for: Closer, power-hitting first baseman or corner outfielder, relievers, second baseman

What’s going on: Mike Piazza won’t be re-signed, so that will free up $15 million for other pursuits, namely a closer such as Billy Wagner, and a slugger such as Carlos Delgado, Adam Dunn, Manny Ramirez or Alfonso Soriano. They are expected to make a big offer to Wagner. A catcher also must be added, with Bengie Molina the leading possibilities. They would like to part with Kaz Matsui, and Mike Cameron will have to prove he is healthy next spring before he can be dealt. A bit of a long shot would be Rafael Furcal signing and moving to second base. Ramon Castro, Roberto Hernandez, Miguel Cairo and Marlon Anderson could return. But Braden Looper (coming off shoulder surgery), Doug Mientkiewicz, Danny Graves, Kaz Ishii and Felix Heredia had options declined, and will be going elsewhere. Jose Mesa and Julian Tavarez are two possibilities in the setup roles. Julio Franco is a possibility off the bench, or in a platoon with rookie Mike Jacobs. They exercised an option on Steve Trachsel, who will return to the rotation.

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Tony Gutierrez / AP

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