The Deadline

We are just hours away from the non-waiver trade deadline and the Mets are as desperately in need of a deal as any team in baseball - needing help on the field and a distraction off of it.

So will they make a move?

The pieces are certainly out there that could help them. But one Mets official has maintained that Omar Minaya is under orders to not deplete the farm system any further and the Mets have little to offer at the major league level that would net these high-priced pieces.

Here are a few and the whys and why nots:

Roy Halladay

Why: Add him to the rotation and the Mets have two aces, an imposing mix that negates the lack of hitting that they have had this year -and might have next year if Carlos Delgado is gone, Carlos Beltran is still rehabilitating and the Wilpons don't pony up the money for help. The Mets insist that they want to build on pitching and defense and there would be no better place to start than with Santana and Halladay at the top of the rotation.

Why not: Money, money, money.Halladay makes it now and after his contract runs out next year he's going to be eligible for bigger bucks - and might want that extension up front to okay a trade, just as Santana did when the Mets swung the deal for him. The Mets seem more intent on filling the need for a bat.

Victor Martinez
Why: Maybe nobody fits the Mets needs better. He's a catcher/first baseman. The Mets, coincidentally, need a catcher and a first baseman. He's got a power bat. The Mets need a power bat. Next year, Delgado will be gone unless the Mets take a cheap flyer on a contract with him and he'd certainly fit better in the American League. Feel ready for Daniel Murphy as your full-time first baseman? And at catcher Brian Schneider's contract is up this year. He has a reasonable contract for 2010 - a club option that becomes $7.5 million if he is traded.

Why not: The price is high. The Indians have made it plain that they will deal - having already sent off Cliff Lee as they seek to cut payroll. But they are not giving him away. He's drawn interest from all over the league and the bidding - and asking price - are high.

Adrian Gonzalez
Why: Need a first baseman? Why not take on a power hitting one with a pristine reputation? Undaunted by ballparks, Gonzalez has become the cornerstone of the Padres franchise.

Why not: Just consider this - the Padres are reportedly seeking a Halladay-type package for Heath Bell. Now multiply that by double and you've got what they want for Gonzalez.

Scott Kazmir
Why: Power armed lefty. Maybe you've heard of him.

Why not: Really, do the Mets have to revisit this? High contract for his production and he still carries some of the same question marks he did when the Mets dealt him away - injuries, inconsistency, work ethic. Not that he's Victor Zambrano.

Comments

[Jason]

It has been reported that the Mets turned down Holt and Mejia for V- Mart.

The Mets won't trade any of there Top prospects it looks like.

I wonder if Ike Davis is included in that list. He has been tremendous this year (other than the almost 100 strikeouts).

[tarheelcoach]

But is Martinez still a catcher? The word is that the Indians don't think he is a full-time catcher anymore. If Martinez is a 1B, he isn't worth anything like what the Indians seem to want for him.

[Kakak]

Nothing makes me happier than haivng a dominant, young home-grown Yankee player to root for. As an added bonus, it really infuriates Red Sox fans for some reason when a home-grown Yankee gets a lot of attention. For the second half of the 1990's, hating Jeter seemed to rank higher for Boston fans than liking their own team. As such, I'd love to see the Yankees trot out a 21-year old Montero behind the plate next year and watch him mash all summer long. I do think way too much is made of Montero's defense (or lack thereof). As has already been pointed out, we've been doing just fine with Posada, and Montero can't possibly be a worse defensive catcher than Posada. Also, at 20 years old, we have no idea what kind of skillset Montero is capable of learning, as catchers take a notoriously long time to develop. However, I would also love to see a defensive wizard behind the plate for the Yanks that can really lead a pitching staff and gun down runners. All too often the Yankees get embarassed by hustle teams (Angels from 2002-2008, Rangers this year) and that's infuriating to watch, so top-notch defense all-around is a worthy priority. According to this list, Gary Sanchez has a higher ceiling than Montero. Does anyone have more information on what he projects to be? I know a lot about Montero and Romine, but haven't heard much about Sanchez.