The Mets didn't totally revamp their roster under new general manager Omar Minaya. But the Opening Day lineup should include five players who weren't on the team last season and two others who will be in different positions. That's significant change.

ARRIVALS
RHP Pedro Martinez (free agent from Boston), RHP Alay Soler (free agent from Cuba), INF Miguel Cairo (free agent from Yankees), 1B Doug Mientkiewicz (acquired from Boston), OF Carlos Beltran (free agent from Houston), OF Ron Calloway (claimed on waivers from Washington), RHP Todd Van Poppel (free agent from Cincinnati).

DEPARTURES
LHP Al Leiter (free agent, signed with Florida), LHP John Franco (free agent, signed with Houston), INF Todd Zeile (retired), RHP Ricky Bottalico (free agent, signed with Milwaukee), OF Richard Hidalgo (free agent, signed with Texas), C Vance Wilson (traded to Detroit).

PROJECTED ROTATION

--RHP Pedro Martinez wasn't the dominant Pedro of old last season. But he was 16-9 and pitched masterfully in Game 3 of the World Series for Boston. Switching to the National League should add length to his outings.

--LHP Tom Glavine was an All-Star last season before fading in the second half. A taxi accident that knocked out several teeth contributed to his downfall. He turns 39 in March but Glavine could shine in the No. 2 hole.

--RHP Kris Benson got $23 million from the Mets to stay in New York, a contract that raised some eyebrows around the game. He was 12-12 with the Mets and Pirates last season. If he is to ever blossom, this is the year.

--RHP Victor Zambrano is over the sore elbow that shut him down last August. Pitching coach Rick Peterson swears Zambrano is a 20-game winner waiting to happen. It's all a matter of getting control of his live fastball.

--RHP Steve Trachsel doesn't attract a lot of attention. But he has won 28 games over the last two seasons for terrible teams and never missed a start. Few, if any, teams in the National League have a No. 5 starter of his caliber.

RHP Pedro Martinez was signed to a $53 million deal to be the ace. He's not a flame-thrower anymore, but he's crafty enough to win a bunch of National League games. But the keys to the rotation are RHPs Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano. They have the talent to win 30 games, but their history that suggests they won't get nearly that many. At least they throw hard, which is something the rotation sorely lacked last season. If there is an injury, RHP Jae Weong Seo will be waiting in Triple-A Norfolk to step in.

PROJECTED BULLPEN

--RHP Braden Looper enters his second season as the closer. He was solid last season (2-5, 2.70 with 29 saves). A groundball pitcher in previous seasons, he struck out 86 in 83 1/3 innings last year.

--RHP Mike DeJean had a 1.69 ERA in 21 1/3 innings with the Mets after being acquired from Baltimore. The Mets saw enough to make him their right-handed setup man. But he was 0-5 with a 6.13 ERA with the Orioles.

--LHP Dae Sung Koo is the lefty setup man at this point. A Korean import via Japan, Koo is 34 and has never pitched in the majors before. But he's supposed to be tough on lefties.

--LHP Felix Heredia was just awful for the Yankees last season (1-1, 6.28). He put 64 runners on base via hit or walk in 38 2/3 innings. But the Mets wanted to get rid of Mike Stanton's contract and took Heredia in return. If pitching coach Rick Peterson can make something of Heredia he should get a big raise.

--RHP Matt Ginter started 14 games last season and pitched well at times. But his role now will be to be the long reliever. A former college closer, he could become a setup man if circumstances dictate.

--RHP Scott Strickland could win a job in the bullpen assuming he has recovered from Tommy John elbow surgery that limited him to minor league rehab games last season. Once a hard thrower, he has a good makeup for the job.

This is the most glaring weakness on the team. Outside of RHP Braden Looper, the Mets have a bunch of question marks. Don't be surprised if GM Omar Minaya makes a trade or two to improve the depth. There are nearly a dozen non-roster types fighting for a job. None is impressive on paper. The Mets seem to be throwing as many names as they can into a hat and hoping one or two emerge. Right now the primary setup men are RHP Mike DeJean and unknown Korean LHP Dae Sung Koo. Yikes.

PROJECTED LINEUP

--SS Jose Reyes had hamstring and leg problems last season that limited him to 53 games. He also struck out 31 times and drew only five walks. But when he is healthy, Reyes produces doubles, triples and stolen bases in bunches. He could win a Gold Glove at shortstop.

--2B Kaz Matsui was a bust last season, hitting .272 with a scattergun arm at shortstop. Now he's a second baseman and under pressure to prove that he was worth the $21 million the Mets gave him to come over from Japan.

--OF Carlos Beltran pulled the upset of the winter when he signed with the Mets. Of course, he did have $119 million good reasons. His statistics last season (.267, 38, 104) weren't awe-inspiring. But he a five-tool, young player who was brilliant in the playoff spotlight last season.

--C Mike Piazza hasn't driven in 100 runs or hit over .300 since 2000. Once one of the greatest right-handed hitters of his generation, Piazza is now a fading catcher with injury problems. His contract is up after this season, which should provide plenty of motivation.

--OF Cliff Floyd has been a bust as Met, playing only 221 games over the last two seasons with 131 RBI. GM Omar Minaya tried to trade him several times to no avail. A left-handed power hitter, Floyd has a place in the middle of the lineup assuming he can stay on the field.

--OF Mike Cameron had a rocky first season as a Met (despite 30 home runs, a career high). Then the club signed Carlos Beltran and he was shifted to right field against his will. Once a Gold Glover in center, Cameron's pride has been wounded and he's coming off surgery on his left wrist. Welcome to spring training!

--3B David Wright was a find last season, hitting .293 with 40 RBI over 69 games. Only 22, he projects to be one of the team's leaders on and off the field. He needs work defensively, but he's a complete player at the plate with a package that includes surprising speed.

--1B Doug Mientkiewicz was the Mets' consolation prize at first base after they failed to sign free agent star Carlos Delgado. It could be a blessing in disguise -- Mientkiewicz is an outstanding defensive first baseman who will support a young infield. He's also a solid contact hitter.

The Mets haven't had a lineup this strong since they won the National League in 2000. Of course, much depends on the ability of SS Jose Reyes, 2B Kaz Matsui, C Mike Piazza and OF Cliff Floyd to stay healthy. All four spent long stints on the disabled list last season. OF Mike Cameron hit 30 home runs last season but is making the move to right field against his will. New CF Carlos Beltran can do it all on the field, but he can't do it by himself.

PROJECTED RESERVES

--C-1B Jason Phillips was a bust in his second season, hitting an embarrassing .218. The self-confident Phillips will have to accept a bench role, although with Mike Piazza behind the plate he could start as many as 50 games.

--UTIL Joe McEwing hit .254 last season but had only five extra-base hits in 138 at-bats. He can play anywhere on the diamond -- even catcher -- and that should keep him on the roster. But his place is far from secure.

--INF Miguel Cairo was a savvy pickup by GM Omar Minaya. With Kaz Matsui potentially a disaster at second base and Jose Reyes an injury waiting to happen, the Mets need a solid veteran they can plug in. In some minds, Cairo should be starting ahead of Matsui.

--OF Victor Diaz burns for a chance to show he can hit in the major leagues. A former infielder, he's now an outfielder. No matter what, he's a liability on defense.

--OF Eric Valent was a surprise last season, hitting .267 with 13 home runs after being picked up in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. A strong lefty hitter, he has earned a place on the bench.

The Mets finally have their bench players on the bench instead of in the starting lineup, as was often the case last season. The addition of veteran INF Miguel Cairo was pivotal. The free agent started at second base for the Yankees last season and is a proven player. Valent and Diaz are young outfielders with good power. The surprise could be veteran 1B Andres Galarraga. If starter Doug Mientkiewicz looks like a platoon candidate in the spring, Galarraga could get a shot.

TOP ROOKIES
OF Victor Diaz hit .292 with 56 extra-base hits in 141 games for Triple-A Norfolk last season. A bit of a free swinger (133 strikeouts), he has power and doesn't lack confidence. A strong winter in the Dominican improved his odds of making the club. RHP Heath Bell is 27 but has pitched only 17 games in the majors. His career finally got going last season and the reliever has a chance to make the team because of a weak bullpen. He was 0-2 with a 3.33 ERA for the Mets last season, fanning 27 in 24 1/3 innings.

SPRING FOCUS
The spotlight will be squarely on new manager Willie Randolph and new superstars Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran. But a bigger question is how much production is left in Mike Piazza.

MEDICAL WATCH
RHP Victor Zambrano (slight tear in elbow) and OF Mike Cameron (right hand) will be watched closely in spring training to see if their injuries have healed.

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