[EmpireWF]

Is it the hot-stove season yet? Not as long as the World Series is being played but that doesn't stop all the talk from the Mets and about the Mets occuring. Here's some newsbits and just tidbits regarding the Mets...

-Gotham Baseball says the Mets will target Alfonso Soriano and Barry Zito along with the lesser attractive names like Ray Durham and Mark Mulder.

Gotham's Mark Healey and his sources don't believe the Mets will be trading Lastings Milledge. But they could bring in a veteran OF to help bring him along. Also look out for prospect OF Carlos Gomez who some say has a higher ceiling than Milledge.

Also, GB and Healey appear to be the only sources along with MLBTradeRumors that say the Mets don't want or at least have minimal interest in Julio Lugo.

-Most seem to think Tom Glavine is as good as gone and a Brave...but the Atlanta Journal Constitution says otherwise. According to David O'Brien over there, Glavine will not get as nearly much money from the Braves as he would if he stayed with the Mets. If he stays he can earn more than $14 Million for 2007. But if he leaves he'll get $7 Million from the Mets and whatever the Braves can pay him. And according to O'Brien, it's not much.

-In today's NY Post, Mark Hale lists the following names in possible connection with the Mets: Julio Lugo, Mark Loretta, Tony Graffanino, Alex Cora, Moises Alou, Shannon Stewart, Freddy Garcia (if "the Mets don't sign Jason Schmidt or Daisuke Matsuzaka or bring Dontrelle Willis here in a swap"....I don't see them doing either of these).

And Mets third base coach Manny Acta told the Post..."Mets third-base coach Manny Acta told The Post in an e-mail last night that he will be interviewing for the manager's job with the Giants tomorrow and the Nationals on Tuesday. Acta also wrote that "everything went well" with his Rangers managerial interview on Friday."

Frankly, I don't see Schmidt signing with the Mets. From everything I've heard he wants to back home which I believe is Seattle. As opposed to making a big splash with Zito or Dontrelle, I could see the Mets trading for a possible #3 starter elsewhere and sticking him in the rotation. Or the idea of Mark Mulder who may want to reunite with Rick Peterson to get his career back on track.

And interestingly enough, Mets fans around here are debating who they'd want more as a free agent....Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee. Interesting debate but I doubt either comes to Shea besides as a visitor.

Off-seasons are nearly as exciting as the season itself lol.

[firefrozen]

I think it is a little to early to know anything until the mets start making some offers. right now its just a bunch of people seeing who the mets could get to fill their roster holes.

I am an Alou fan but i think the mets are better off sticking with Endy Chavez. They have a perfectly good outfielder and i think that their money could be spent more wisely.