Kaz Matsui is owed $8 million in the final year of his contract and has a no-trade clause to all but the Angels, Dodgers and Yankees. He indicated he intends to fulfill the deal rather than return to Japan. Still, the Mets figure to try to upgrade, even if it means eating a sizable chunk of Matsui's contract. One intriguing possibility: Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal, a free agent after the postseason, has purportedly let it be known he would be willing to play second base in Flushing. Rookie Anderson Hernandez can field, but odds are he'll be insurance.