"Omar Minaya knew it would be difficult to bring Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis back to New York in 2009, given the likely fan response the first time they imploded.

The GM, however, did not expect a complete bullpen overhaul, in which aside from Pedro Feliciano, the entire relief corps had thrown just 38-1/3 innings in a Mets uniform entering Opening Day.

The Mets ranked second in blown saves in 2008 with 29, trailing only the Cardinals, who had 31, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Still, Minaya said, he never planned to trade sidearmer Joe Smith during the winter. Nor did the GM arrive at spring training thinking Duaner Sanchez wouldn't be part of the '09 bullpen.

But Smith had to be sent to Cleveland in the three-team, 12-player deal that landed J.J.Putz and Sean Green from the Mariners. And Bobby Parnell's stellar spring forced the Mets to rethink Sanchez's spot.

The Mets released Sanchez on March 10, cutting him a $276,339 check. He subsequently signed with San Diego.

Regardless of the original intent, the offseason handiwork was on full display on Opening Day in Cincinnati in the Mets' 2-1win. The newcomers - Green, Putz and Francisco Rodriguez - combined to record the final 10 outs. Putz issued a walk to account for the bullpen's lone baserunner, as Johan Santana avoided a fate that so often befell him last season. In '08, seven times Santana handed a lead to the bullpen and came away with a no-decision.

"I didn't expect to trade Joe Smith," Minaya said. "Even Sanchez, we just made a decision the way Parnell was coming. I didn't expect it to be that drastic. That being said, you have to make moves when the time comes."

Minaya had been talking up the sinkerball specialist Green for much of spring training, and believes that less-heralded acquisition will pay big dividends for the Mets. Green, who turns 30 in two weeks, went 4-5 with a 4.67ERA and one save for Seattle last season. Putz, a former closer who will set up Rodriguez, has insisted those numbers were skewed by overuse."