[EmpireWF]

There's no question the Mets biggest need at this point is starting pitching. The Johan Santana talks are likely to heat up in the coming weeks after he declined the Minnesota Twins' contract offer. However, the Mets just don't have what it takes to get him. By all accounts, it would require Jose Reyes to be the key piece in any potential deal. That's NOT happening.

So instead, look to Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics. Word has it that he is looking to deal one of his starters (Dan Haren, Joe Blanton or Rich Harden) for several prospects. Reports over the past few years have said that Beane has been enamored with Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman. So why not go after the All-Star who has pitched well in the post-season (with St. Louis)?

Ken Davidoff of Newsday suggests Omar Minaya make this deal to bring in Haren:

Aaron Heilman, Lastings Milledge, Kevin Mulvey and a lower-level prospect to the A's for Dan Haren.


If all it took to get Haren were Milledge, Heilman and a good prospect...I would definitely do it. Heilman is replaceable in the pen and the Mets have Carlos Gomez and others backing Milledge up in the system.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

There's no question the Mets biggest need at this point is starting pitching. The Johan Santana talks are likely to heat up in the coming weeks after he declined the Minnesota Twins' contract offer. However, the Mets just don't have what it takes to get him. By all accounts, it would require Jose Reyes to be the key piece in any potential deal. That's NOT happening.

So instead, look to Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics. Word has it that he is looking to deal one of his starters (Dan Haren, Joe Blanton or Rich Harden) for several prospects. Reports over the past few years have said that Beane has been enamored with Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman. So why not go after the All-Star who has pitched well in the post-season (with St. Louis)?

Ken Davidoff of Newsday suggests Omar Minaya make this deal to bring in Haren:

Aaron Heilman, Lastings Milledge, Kevin Mulvey and a lower-level prospect to the A's for Dan Haren.


If all it took to get Haren were Milledge, Heilman and a good prospect...I would definitely do it. Heilman is replaceable in the pen and the Mets have Carlos Gomez and others backing Milledge up in the system.

I rather have Harden then Haren in this bunch...if the kid can just stay injury free...and Billy Beane has done wonders with a small market team...maybe the Mets should trade for him instead.

[EmpireWF]

Why would you rather have Harden instead? He's injury prone to the nth degree. Haren has proven he is one of the top pitchers in the game.

[ThePundit]

By Empire:

Aaron Heilman, Lastings Milledge, Kevin Mulvey and a lower-level prospect to the A's for Dan Haren.

The A's have no reason to trade Haren. He's a top quality pitcher and he's not arbitration eligible for a while. If Beane were to trade him for that package he should have his head examined.

[ThePundit]

In today's Newsday:

While the Yankees trumpet their trade talks for Johan Santana, the Mets, in typical fashion, aren't saying much when it comes to their rotation needs. Omar Minaya, like every other general manager in baseball, has coveted Santana. But the Mets don't appear to have the chips necessary to compete with the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers for the two-time Cy Young winner.

That will force Minaya to look a little further west for a starting pitcher and once again lead him to the door of Athletics GM Billy Beane, who possesses two excellent alternatives to Santana in Dan Haren and Joe Blanton. It's a familiar spot for Minaya, who discussed trading for two A's pitchers at last year's winter meetings in Orlando, but there's more of a sense of urgency this time around.

With few other places to turn for an elite starter, Minaya is at the mercy of Beane, whose demands will be steep. Unlike past years, when Beane was forced to act because of pending free agency, both Haren and Blanton aren't necessarily going anywhere.

Mets turn attention toward A's Haren and Blanton -- Newsday.com

I don't see why Beane would trade Haren. He's cheap enough. Then again, what do I know?

[EmpireWF]

I guess they would be more urgent to deal Blanton since they don't want to fork over the cash in arbitration and sign him to a long-term deal.

[EmpireWF]

It's weird, some reports say Beane doesn't like Heilman and Milledge as much as he did in recent years. Also, it sounds like they may not even look to move Haren. But it does seem as though either Haren or Blanton will be moved this off-season.

I'd think the Mets would certainly have what it takes to get Blanton. Are they interested in him? Time will tell.