28-year old switch-hitting shortstop Jose Reyes finished 11th in the 2011 N.L. MVP voting. Reyes played in 126 games for the Mets last year and he was 181 for 537 (.337 avg, .877 OPS) with 101 runs scored, 7 homers, 44 RBIs and 39 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,050 games in his 9 years with the Mets and he is 1,300 of 4,453 (.292 avg, .782 OPS) with 735 runs scored, 81 homers, 423 RBIs and 370 stolen bases. If Reyes doesn’t return to the Mets for 2012, he went out with a bang.

UPDATE:  Jose Reyes has left the Mets to sign with the Florida Marlins.

The Mets have signed 27-year old lefty swinging outfielder Adam Loewen to a minor league contract. Loewen played in 14 games for the Blue Jays last year and he was 6 for 32 (.188 avg, .610 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs. He also played in 134 games in AAA-ball for the Jays last year and he was 159 for 520 (.306 avg, .884 OPS) with 83 runs scored, 17 homers, 85 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Loewen is now 6 for 34 (.176 avg, .576 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs. Loewen started his career as a pitcher with the Orioles but he kept hurting his elbow so he converted to the outfield and it only took him three years to get back to the majors.

The New York Mets will likely go shopping for bargains, and with that in mind, these are the three guys I think they should target in free agency:

1. Aaron Harang - It seems like teams are scared of Harang because he pitched so well at Petco Park and not so good on the road. But, Citi Field is a pitcher’s park too, so Harang would be a nice fit near the top of the Mets’ rotation in 2012.

2. Frank Francisco - The Mets need a closer and Frank Francisco is a very underrated one that won’t likely command the type of dollars that a Heath Bell would.

3. Jack Wilson - The Mets could use a sure handed infielder that can play 2B and SS. Wilson fits that bill.

30-year old righty reliever Taylor Buchholz has elected to leave the Mets as a free agent. Buchholz pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He has now pitched in 158 games (27 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 20-22 with 1 save, a 4.28 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The Mets won’t miss Buchholz too much as he has always had a hard time staying healthy.

The Mets have signed 31-year old righty swinging C/1B/OF Vinny Rottino to a minor league deal. Rottino played in 119 games in AAA-ball for the Marlins last year and he was 142 of 467 (.304 avg, .818 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 10 homers, 59 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He also played in 8 games for the Marlins last year and he was 2 for 12 (.167 avg, .452 OPS) with 1 run scored. Rottino has now played in 26 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 7 for 36 (.194 avg, .506 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 0 homers, 25 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. This was a good signing for the Mets as Rottino is a really versatile player.