Chris from LI emailed Matt Cerrone at Metsblog:

just had a couple of questions about our top prospects. what are their plans for flores and marte, since their positions are pretty much locked up at the major league level?  will they eventually be moved, maybe flores to 2B? and also, any chance of seeing Holt in the bigs this year, maybe for a spot start or two or even compete with niese for the fifth spot? do they view this as an option? I’m pretty excited about this kid.

1.  The Mets plan for Flores and Marte is to leave them at SS and 3B respectively for the 2009 season.  The fact that the Mets are well set with elite players in Reyes and Wright at the MLB level at the positions that Flores and Marte are playing now is largely irrelevant.  Flores and Marte are both many years away from the big leagues.  Flores would be unusually tall for an MLB shortstop.  He could end up as a tall MLB SS.  Likelier, he will be given a shot at 3B or in the OF at some time in the future when he is closer to the majors, and the Mets roster needs at the time of his anticipated arrival are more obvious.  Marte has work to do to remain at the hotcorner, but has a chance.  I doubt either will move to 2B, which requires the footspeed that both players might lose as they fill out.  Trying to anticipate what the big league roster will need in four years is a fruitless exercise.

2.  The chances of seeing Brad Holt in the Big Leagues in 2009 are very, very low, bordering on nil, despite the fact I think he’s the Mets best pitching prospect.  He has no chance to compete with Niese for the fifth spot.  At the end of 2008, Holt had one plus big league pitch.  He needs minor league reps to facilitate the development of his secondary offerings.

Please email me at toby.m.hyde (at) gmail.com with other burning minor league questions for upcoming mailbags.