In this off season, the NY Mets face a challenge that they haven't had to deal with for 4 long years, this challenge? Finding an everyday first baseman. The answer is plain and simple Adam LaRoche.

Problem 1. First Base Defense: Last year, despite the myth propagated by some even on this blog, Daniel Murphy was a horrendous fielding first baseman. Daniel Murphy had the lowest fielding % of any first baseman (with 70+ GP) in all of Major League Baseball last season. Murphy's error total of 10, places him in a 5 way tie for 4th most errors of any first baseman in all of baseball...except Murphy had at about at least 20 less starts than any other double digit error first bagger.
Whats the best cure for bad defense? a solid above average defender, Adam LaRoche fits that bill perfectly. Last Season Adam LaRoche committed only 2 errors in 148 games, tying him for 2nd best in all of MLB.
Problem 2. Power Hitting: In 2009, the New York Mets experienced one of the worst power outages in MLB slugging only .394, tied for fourth worst in the MLB. While some of our power issues can be blamed on injuries, and even less of them on a larger stadium (Citi Field sure had a lot of HR's hit out of it last season...just not by the Metropolitians). Both of those issues can be addressed by Adam LaRoche.
Adam Laroche is a career .491 slugger, and one who showed an ability to hit for power very well in his visits to Citi Field last season as shown by his hitting .315 with 2 home runs and a .538 slugging % in 9 games at Citi Field. On the injury front, LaRoche has played less than 140 games only twice in his career, once his rookie season, and once in 2008 where he finished with 136. LaRoche is extremely durable, is not considered an injury risk and he will only be 30 years old for the 2010 season.
Problem 3. Late Season Collapses: As we as Met fans all know in 2007 and 2008 the Mets experienced problems winning games in late August and September, this problem cannot be fixed entirely by Adam LaRoche, but the number I am about to post surely will show how he can help out.
.933

That my fellow Met fans is Adam LaRoche's career August and September OPS. When it comes to post All-Star break numbers, you hear lots of talk about the Manny Ramirez's of the league, but Adam LaRoche has a career slugging % of .546, he's well known for tearing apart offenses in the second half and he may well be just the spark plug the Mets need in September to get over their late season hangups.