The Mets could sign the 40-year-old Moises Alou as a short-term answer, allowing Lastings Milledge more time to develop, but a more intriguing option would be Alfonso Soriano, who hits home runs, steals bases and is a free agent looking for a lucrative contract that may exceed $80 million. Soriano plays left field and second base, the two positions the Mets are seeking to upgrade, and Minaya has been interested in Soriano in the past.