The Mets are stuck at a crossroad, one trail revealing additional years of mediocrity with the other a game of chance into the unknown. Through the last decade of struggles in Flushing, two teenagers have grown and fought in the blue and orange battalion to become the most admired warriors in the not as famous part of New York. They are young and in their primes. They keep the clubhouse intact and alive. They are perennial all-stars...and they must be let go.

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Uh oh. I sense a lot of anger from both NY and BOS entering this link. Well tell me why. This is pure curiosity on my end (as far as I know I have never heard this trade discussed, only Beltran for Dice K). Here are their contracts.

Reyes: 2010 $11 mil

Matsuzaka: 2010 $10 mil 2011 10 mil

Who wins? Who loses? How do fans from each time react? Please state your fanhood as well.

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So the word is out the Mets are exploring all options. That doesn't mean they are looking to trade any of their core players but nothing is being ruled out. As a Mets fan I would love to see Wright and Reyes finish their careers in Queens. But look at the recent world series teams and its obvious our pitching is a long way from where these teams pitching is at. And considering we have no impact pitching prospects in the high levels with the exception of Jenry Mejia and no big name free agent starters on the market for a couple of years, I do believe our best bet is to trade for some near ready pitching prospects.

With that said, what teams would be interested in Wright Reyes Beltran and Pagan? And what could they offer for them?

PS On a side note can some explain to me why the Mets or any team does not spend $25 million a year on international signings + the draft. If you sign 25 pitchers for an average of $1 million each isn't there a good chance that at least one of them develops into an ace or number 2 starter and save you money in the long haul?

I would love to buy low on Z. Mets Paradise via MLBTraderumors proposed Ollie Castillo and Maine. I am all for it, 7 months ago I was proposing Maine and prospects for Carlos. I think Z has a chance to regain #2 or #3 form. The best part of the trade is Ollie is outta here and Castillo would not stunt Tejadas development. Anyone miss Castillo's defense btw?

Cubs fans how do you feel about this deal?

A few weeks ago I proposed a trade on Fanpost to a crowd of severe criticism. It involved Carlos Zambrano going to the Mets for John Maine and prospects. While that proposal was based off what I believed each team would be interested in, I came across some similar rumors today. While the rumor does not list a complete trade package for Zambrano, it does mention names of interests.

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As the Mets GM I propose

John Maine, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Reese Havens/Ruben Tejada, C+ pitcher for Carlos Zambrano.

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As the Mets GM I propose the following for Carlos Zambrano ($17.75 mil)

Maine ($5 mil?) Castillo ($6 mil) Pagan ($0.75 mil)

Ruben Tejada/Reese Havens (both are B-/C+ 2B/SS prospects) Tejada will probably be Alberto Callaspo with more speed and Havens could flop or drop 25 HRs as a 2nd baseman.

And if necessary a C+ pitching prospect maybe an Eric Beaulac.

Revised proposal

Zambrano (17.75) and Miles (2.75) for

Maine (3.0 estimated arb) Castillo (6.0) Havens/Tejada, B- prospect OR 2 C+ prospects

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Who are the best sleeper catchers in the MLB and AAA?

And also

Who are the best YOUNG DEFENSIVE catchers (22-27)?

Finally how should the Mets deal with their catching position next year?

FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER  FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER

Wilmer Flores and Jefry Marte must be the worst defensive side of the diamond in all of major and minor league baseball. I think Marte has around 40 errors and Flores about 20 for the season ( I could be way off). Someone please calculate the rate and how many errors Marte will have by the end of a full season. Now there is no question they can hit, especially Flores but how long do you keep running those two out there?

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ESPN reports that TOR rejected the counteroffer of Happ, Taylor, Donald and Carassco for Halladay after PHI rejected Happ, Drabek and Brown for Halladay.

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With another major Met going down this week, I started wondering what was the worst season of injuries your team has ran across?

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As a Mets fan, I love the JJ Putz deal. As a baseball nerd, I need to know why the Mariners accepted this. I am most curious about their standpoint and how they approached this deal.

Questions in General

-What are the prospect grades for Carp, Cleto and Carrera?

-Is Sean Green worth a little more or equal to Jason Vargas in terms of value?

Questions for Mariners GM

-Why swap Reed for Chavez? Could you not have asked for concessions in the prospects part of the deal.

-Is it fair to say Green,  Valbuena and a throw in could have netted Gutierrez?

-If so, why trade quality in a great closer for quantity in a 5th starter/good reliever, a left handed specialist, and 3 C+ prospects? Could you not have requested Heilman, a B/B- prospect and a high upside C/C+ prospect instead?

After writing this up, this trade has progressed from very bad to just not logical in my mind. I cant think of a comparable trade at the moment but it just blows me away that the Mariners did not get a top 5 prospect from the Mets and settled for quantity. They did get a young potentially average CFer in Gutierrez but they had to part with a young potentially average 2B in Valbuena to do it.

Two closers. One right hander and one left hander. They switch roles as setup man and closer depending on the hitters who are coming up. Sort of the way you have a speedy running back for potential big gains and a bulldozing running back for garunteed small yards.

Not only does it let you match up better, it leaves you a solid plan B if one of the guys go down with an injury (Most interim closers have no experience closing in the year they are asked to step in). Not to mention the potential money you save if you have a closing vacancy.

Lets take a look at the Mets for example. They can sign K Rod for about 15 million a year or trade for George Sherill and sign Trevor Hoffman for an estimated 5 million a year. What I was hoping for originally was Damaso Marte and Juan Cruz at 5 million a year each but Marte didn't even explore the market. Yes its likely that K Rod/Fuentes/Putz/Jenks will do a much better job in the 9th inning, but what happens if one of them gets injured (BJ Ryan, Billy Wagner) or goes cold (Brad Lidge 06, Fuentes 07)? You would then be paying 10-15 million for an injured or ineffective closer and everyone else's role in the bullpen gets tougher. On the other hand if one guy goes cold, the other should still be servicable closing solo.

As you all know, the saves statistic is quite deceiving so unless you have a top 10 closer I believe all teams should employ a pair of right-left co-closers.

I was just wondering if the following players were still prospects, what would their prospect grades be now?

C WAN Jesus Flores

2B KCR Alberto Callaspo

1B/OF SDP Justin Huber

RHP ARZ Yusmeiro Petit

As a Mets fan I am curious to what kind of prospects the Mets lost with Flores, Huber and Petit. I was also lobbying for bringing in Callaspo onto the Mets to play 2B last year. This year I wish they would go after one of the Cardinals OF prospects. Perhaps Nick Evans for Joe Mather or Brian Barton.