[ThePundit]

If Zito isn't a met, I'll be shocked .

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

If Zito isn't a met, I'll be shocked .

From everything I hear, it sounds like the Mets won't be going after him like they did Pedro. Zito will likely command a top salary in the range of $15 Mil per for 4-5 years. The Mets may not want to invest so much capital in one guy.

[firefrozen]

i think it depends on whether or not the mets decide to make him their top priority or if they want to throw a deal at Shmidt or one of the others as well.

[Greatitalo]

What do you think about this line up and pitching staff?
It could happen!!

SS Reyes
2B Lugo Sign as a free agent 3 year 10 M
CF Beltran
1B Delgado
3B Wright
LF Floyd re-sign 1 year 4m
RF Milledge
C Lo Duca
OF Gary Matthews Sign as a free agent
OF Chavez
U Valentine resign 2 years
INF A. Henanderz
C Castro

SP Schmidt 3 years 30 m
SP Willis and give up Heilman, Bannister and Gomez
SP Martinez
SP Perez
SP Pelfrey
LRP Hernandez 1 year 4 m
RP Ring
RP Bradford 3 year 6m
RP JC Romero
RP Mota 2 year 5m
SUP Sanchez
CL Wagner

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by Greatitalo

What do you think about this line up and pitching staff?
It could happen!!

2B Lugo Sign as a free agent 3 year 10 M
LF Floyd re-sign 1 year 4m
OF Gary Matthews Sign as a free agent
U Valentine resign 2 years

SP Schmidt 3 years 30 m
SP Willis and give up Heilman, Bannister and Gomez
LRP Hernandez 1 year 4 m
RP Bradford 3 year 6m
RP Mota 2 year 5m

Cliff Floyd, I'm not sure about. They could re-sign him to an incentive type deal for a year and see how it goes. But I wouldn't want to risk wasting another spot on the roster on him. No offense, but Floyd's Mets days should be done with.

I'm sure Jason Schmidt could get plenty more than $10 Mil per for three years on the open market. He should be able to get at least $13 mil per for a good four or five years.

I doubt the Marlins end up trading Willis but with a trade like that, I don't know if they would take it anyway. The Mets would be giving up the best position player prospect in the system (unless you count Milledge) along with Heilman who others are high on and a middle rotation guy in Bannister. I'm not sure they'd take that deal, but you never know.

Bradford should get a two-year deal, max.

Gary Matthews is an interesting name. Can he play the corner spots?

I doubt Valentin is brought back for two reasons...1) He can get plenty of money as a starter elsewhere and 2) the Mets will likely put him on the bench if they had the choice too...which he did not do well in early in 2006. However if he badly wants to be on a winner, perhaps they work something out.

But I do like your aggresiveness as far as Schmidt and Willis goes. Whatever happens, just remember that they'll likely get Pedro back after the All Star Break...so it could be like acquiring an ace except you don't have to give anything up.

[firefrozen]

I doubt that florida is looking to deal Dontrelle. They ripped the team apart with the intention of building a rookie team around him. Why trade away the guy that has just a little bit less than half of your already small salary away.
He is also the only thing that gives the 10000 fans a reason to show.

Shmidt could do much better than 10 mil and probably better than three years. I would prefer zito over shmidt anyway.

Julio lugo is a possibility but that will depend on what happens to valentin

Gary Matthews is a very interesting name and is llisted at RF by Yahoo sports. The mets could use another guy that bats 300 and scores 100

[MJHMarc]

The Florida Marlins were willing to trade away Dontrelle Willis for Lastings Milledge last season. In contradictions to your statement regarding 10,000 fans, firefrozen, I think that the Marlins fans come to see Miguel Cabrera instead. Dontrelle Willis only pitches one or two games every week but Cabrera is usually in every single game.

[nrmax88]

lol anybody that thinks delgado wants to be traded OBVIOUSLY hasent been watching mets baseball in 06. I have never in my life seen a baseball team have more fun on the field and with eachother then the mets did this year, these guys truely like and care about eachother from the manager on down to the 25th man. As for Mulder, no thanks, i know he has great stuff but his arm has been giving him trouble all year and its too much of a risk to put money into a guy when u dont know the future of glavine and el duque and pedro already missing the frist half of the year. i would be happy with schmidt or zito

[nrmax88]

gary matthews is a good player except the mets have this guy that plays centerfield already. i forget his name, its carlos something, but hes pretty good if u didnt know

[nrmax88]

lmao another thing i dont understand is everyone has their little mock lineups for opening day 07 which is fine, but every1 has everyone and their mother batting second except paul lo duca, whats the matter with you all, do you not realize what an unbelievable season he had? Without him batting second reyes has probably 15-20 less steals then this year and probably 15-20 less runs scored. you underestimate the power of having a 2 hitter who will take all day to let some1 like reyes steal, contrary to many beliefs reyes isnt a 1st pitch stealer hew likes to wait out pitchers and with lo duca he can wait all day if he wants, how many guys sacrifice 2 strikes just to let a guy steal, and then move him to 3rd basically every single time? Dont take lo duca for granted because he immensely important to the mets, and as long as hes wearin the mets uniform he will bat 2

[EmpireWF]

Welcome to GoTeamsGo nrmax88. I take it you're a big Mets fan like myself (and I guess a bit like MJHMarc although he's with the DodgerBlues).

There's no question Lo Duca will be batting 2nd next year. He's the prototypical guy for the spot with Reyes leading off. Lo Duca can hit and run, is patient and will take some pitches to let Reyes steal. He's great.

As for Delgado, I think it's just the media and some fans believing he wants the option picked up on his deal. I believe it's a team option and he could want them to pick it up and force there hand by using the trade as leverage.

With Mota's problems, it appears the Mets wouldn't want to trade Heilman now. But you never know. They do need another guy in the pen now either way. As for starters, with it now likely that Glavine and El Duque returns, they could either go sign a pitcher or let a guy like Bannister or Pelfrey try for the spot. But I doubt they'd want to start the year with the back end of the rotation being Maine, Perez and a rookie.

[firefrozen]

Lo Duca is clearly an amazing 2 hitter for Reyes at least but what if you picked up a guy like Soriano(hypothetically). There is always someone better but for now i think that Lo Duca has earned his right to priority.

[EmpireWF]

Hypothetically if they get Soriano.....

1. Reyes
2. Lo Duca
3. Beltran
4. Delgado
5. Soriano
6. Wright
7. RF/LF
8. RF/LF

Really, if I remember, Soriano is a switch hitter or a righty.

[firefrozen]

Not sure that Soriano would go for that but its not my point.
my point is that there is always the possibility to make improvements . I think Lo Duca was possibly the mets best off season pick up last year but does that gaurentee him the 2 spot, probably not.