[EmpireWF]

Omar Minaya is looking hard to get a top pitcher this off-season. With no chance at Johan Santana and likely none at Dan Haren, the Mets have turned their sight to Orioles starter Erik Bedard.

Many reports have Minaya offering deals to the Orioles who are also talking with a plethora of other teams about Bedard. Reportedly, the top Mets player in any deal would be Carlos Gomez.

Bedard is 29-years old, has a great fastball and has turned into a very good pitcher in the past two years.

One NL talent evaluator who loves Bedard said, "Bedard is closer in talent to Santana than Haren is to Bedard. In fact, it is not impossible to believe that in a year, we will all think Bedard is better than Santana." An AL executive said, "Here is what impresses me about Bedard, he pitches in the AL East against the Yankees and Red Sox. So, to me, he can pitch anywhere and excel."

[ThePundit]

Jon Heyman was on WFAN yesterday and he says the huge problems with the Mets is that Gomez' value has dropped big time. The Mets just should have traded him before showcasing that he had no pop last year. He was supposed to be a 5 tool player.