On the Mets beat

I can't wait for Omar Minaya's conference call later this afternoon because someone needs to explain this trade with the Nationals to me. Maybe the market value of Lastings Milledge has dipped, but as my Bergen Record colleague Steve Popper reminded me, this is a guy who was nearly traded for Manny Ramirez a few years ago.

Now the best Milledge can bring in return is Brian Schneider and Ryan Church? What happened to the packages for Johan Santana? Dan Haren? Joe Blanton? Apparently, Milledge must be radioactive to those clubs because they wanted no part of him.

True, Milledge has frustrated the Mets with his behavior over the years, and most recently with his rap lyrics. But Milledge is only 22 years old, a better offensive player (right now) than Carlos Gomez and his attitude was improving.

Why not keep Milledge, let him increase his trade value once the season begins and then move him? I really think Johnny Estrada was poised for a bounceback year after surgery and would have been fine splitting the catching duties with Ramon Castro. Oh well.

It's a little weird how the Mets are starting to look like the Expos/Nationals. I wonder if Minaya's affection for his former players is getting in the way of his decision-making. At least Endy Chavez has worked out.

After reading a few of your sentimental comments about Shea, maybe I have been a little harsh on the old building. I'll try to keep that in mind in further posts about Citi Field. I know everyone has fond memories of attending games at Shea, but after visiting other stadiums around the league, it's easy to see that the Mets are long overdue for a more modern upgrade.

I'm sure a number of you have driven down to Philly to see the Mets play at Citizens Bank Park and I think you'd have to admit it's an improved experience. Plus, the Mets won't spend a dime on maintenance at Shea during this final season. I've seen it elsewhere around the league. When a stadium is marked for destruction, the paint is left peeling, the seats are left broken and the bathrooms are left flooded. That's just the way it is.

That said, maybe the Mets can give Shea a fond farewell with a championship season next year. Raising a World Series flag would be a great way to open Citi Field in 2009, don't you think?

Just got back from a tour of fast-rising Citi Field, as well as lunch in the sales office, and I have to say the new stadium will be pretty impressive. Sorry there's no pictures, but here's a few quick points:

-- Not sure if you're planning on spending any time (or money) in the mid-level suites, but they are beyond luxurious. The sightlines are great, the seats cushy and there's a giant flat-screen on the wall. Quite a change from dingy Shea. If you happen to know any corporate sponsors -- or work for one -- find your way into one of these suites.

-- COO Jeff Wilpon took a group of writers inside the stadium itself and we walked each level of seating. Again, great sightlines, and the highest row doesn't stretch much beyond the mezzanine of Shea. Good view of Manhattan from the upper seats and you're closer to home plate than you might expect. If the Mets are getting blown out, you can even watch flights land at LaGuardia.

-- Looks like there will be plenty of open areas to congregate, have a beer and watch the game without having to rush back to your seats. That's a popular feature among new stadiums and Citi Field is catching on to that trend.

-- Took a stroll through the skeletal clubhouse. One reporter who will remain nameless asked where Manny Acta's office was going to be. Sorry Willie.

-- The rotunda is taking shape and the Ebbets-style brick face is flying up at a rapid rate.

-- Another interesting feature is the upper deck that overhangs rightfield. Hit it high enough and the first few rows will catch the ball before the outfielder ever has a chance.

Unfortunately, the Mets have one more season at Shea (ugh).

The Mets released their 2008 schedule roughly 24 hours ago and now we get this from the home office in Flushing:

The Marlins have moved their season opener vs. the Mets to Monday, March 31st and made Thursday, April 3rd an off day.

Adjust your travel plans accordingly.

No, not any of those. Get serious. Anyway, the team just announced the acquisition of reliever Brian Stokes -- for cash considerations -- from the Devil Rays.

Stokes, a 28-year-old righthander, went 2-7 with a 7.07 ERA in 59 games for Tampa Bay last season. He struck out 35 and walked 25 in 62 1/3 innings. Stokes, currently pitching in the Mexican winter league, is 3-3 with three saves and a 4.30 ERA in 12 games, including three starts, for Mexicali.

Stokes was primarily a starter for the Rays in 2006, when he went 1-0 with a 4.88 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance, so he does have some flexibility and looks like an option for long relief.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder how much cheaper (in terms of talent) it will be to trade for Dan Haren or Joe Blanton rather than Johan Santana. Knowing A's GM Billy Beane, there won't be much difference. Beane knows he's sitting on a pair of coveted pitchers this winter -- second only to Santana in the trade market -- and there might be no better time to re-stock a depleted farm system in Oakland.

What the Mets lack in quality, they could make up in quantity, and Beane is looking for numbers. With GM Omar Minaya desperately seeking a front of the rotation starter, he may be forced to unload two major-league ready players like Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman, along with two more like Carlos Gomez and Kevin Mulvey.

Seem like too much? Get used to it. Teams like the A's and Twins will be looking to rob the big-market teams and somebody is bound to hand over the farm to them. If not the Mets, then the Yankees, Dodgers, Angels or Red Sox will. That's the reality of a paper-thin pitching market this offseason.

Just kidding. Anyone here but me get that reference? On that note, let me be among the first to tell you that the Mets have released their 2008 schedule.

Here are the highlights, courtesy of the Mets PR bureau:

The Mets’ final Opening Day at Shea will be Tuesday, April 8 when they host the National League East Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies at 1:10 p.m. The Mets will conclude their 45th regular season at Shea Sunday, September 28 at 1:10 p.m. against the Florida Marlins.

Joe Torre makes his return to New York when the Los Angeles Dodgers come to town for a four-game series, May 29-June 1. The N.L. West Champion Arizona Diamondbacks are in New York June 10-12; the N.L. Champion Colorado Rockies visit July 11-13.

In Interleague play, the Mets face the Texas Rangers June 13-15 and the Seattle Mariners June 23-25. The Mets will host the second set of the home-and-home Subway Series the weekend of June 27-29.

The Mets will play the final week of Major League Baseball’s regular season at Shea when the N.L. Central Champion Chicago Cubs come to New York for a four-game series September 22-25 before the Marlins close out the regular season with a weekend series September 26- 28.

Regular starting times will be 7:10 p.m. for night games and 1:10 p.m. for day games, with the exceptions of Thursday, July 24 vs. the Phillies at 12:10 p.m. and Thursday, August 7 against the San Diego Padres at 12:10 p.m. Game selections under MLB’s national telecast agreements with FOX and ESPN leave most Saturday and Sunday games with starting times that will be announced at a later date. The 2008 schedule is subject to change.

The Mets open the 2008 season on the road against the Marlins Tuesday, April 1 at 4:05 p.m. It marks the second time in franchise history that the Mets have started a season in Florida. The Mets are 12-10 when beginning the season on the road and 29-17 all-time on Opening Day. The Mets and Marlins have night games on April 2-3. The season-opening road trip concludes with a weekend series in Atlanta.

The Mets will play their final three regular season games at Yankee Stadium May 16-18. A month later, New York travels to the west coast to face the defending American League West Champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim June 16-18.

I'm working on the full schedule ... better yet, why don't you just click on this.

Now that Hank Steinbrenner is speaking openly about his trade discussions with the Twins for Johan Santana, I'm bracing for the predictable fallout from the Mets' fan base when he actually arrives in the Bronx. You can bet if the Baby Boss is yakking about Santana, the Yankees are pulling out the stops for him. And if that's the case, the Mets won't be able to outbid their crosstown rivals.

Once that happens, fans will be criticizing everyone from Omar Minaya to Ethan Wilson for the Mets' failure to get Santana. But if there's no match, what can they do? Better to set your sights on the second-tier guys like Dan Haren and then try not to be too upset when Livan Hernandez is backing up his half-brother in the rotation.

Put yourself in Minaya's shoes for a minute and think about it. Is there a deal you can put together that gets Santana? And forget about moving Jose Reyes. That's not happening. Not so easy, is it?

Just got back from an extended Thanksgiving break and it seems as if everyone has been busy carving up Johnny Estrada with the same knife they used on last week's bird.

Since the Mets traded for Estrada, the best thing said about him in most circles is that he is not Guillermo Mota. Don't get me wrong. That's a huge plus in itself. But Estrada, who may or may not be the Mets' catcher in 2008, has more going for him than that.

As someone in the industry pointed out -- a friend of this blog, let's say -- Estrada has helped good pitching staffs get better, and isn't that what the Mets are in the market for anyway? If they wanted (some) offense, they would have re-signed Paul Lo Duca, so dismissing him without so much as an offer is a refection of the team's mindset.

Maybe Estrada didn't have a great success rate throwing out runners last season. Neither did Ramon Castro, for that matter. But here's a few factoids to consider before urging the Mets to dump a prospect or two for Brian Schneider, Gerald Laird or Ramon Hernandez.

Anyway, here's what our FOTB pointed out:

In 2003, with Javy Lopez as primary catcher, the Braves had a 4.10 ERA, 12th best in baseball.
In 2004, when Estrada took over, the Braves had a 3.75 ERA, No. 1 in baseball.
---- The Braves improved their ERA by 0.35 and their ERA rank by 11 spots.

In 2005, with Chris Snyder as primary catcher, the Diamondbacks had a 4.84 ERA, 25th best.
In 2006, when Estrada took over, the Diamondbacks had a 4.48 ERA, 13th best.
----- The Diamondbacks improved their ERA by 0.36 and their ERA rank by 12 spots.

In 2006, with no primary catcher (Damian Miller was the closest), the Brewers had a 4.82 ERA,
25th best.
In 2007, when Estrada took over, the Brewers had a 4.41 ERA, 15th best.
---- The Brewers improved their ERA by 0.41 and their ERA rank by 10 spots.

For reference, the Mets had a 4.26 ERA in 2007, ranking them 12th in baseball. You can bet GM Omar Minaya is familiar with these numbers, and in a story written last week by my colleague Ken Davidoff, it certainly appears that Estrada is motivated for a bounce-back season with the Mets.

Just kidding. Not sure if this even qualifies as news by this point, but the Mets finally announced today that Ramon Castro has re-upped for a two-year deal worth $4.6 million.

Ramon ... Yorvit. Yorvit ... Ramon.

Nice knowing you, Paulie.

Check below for the usual stat roundup:

Holed up in my Manhattan home office, making calls and waiting for David Wright's fundraiser tonight, I took a minute to sketch out a projected Opening Day roster. Just to see how good/bad the Mets will be if they don't make a major move like trading for a Johan Santana, Joe Blanton or Dan Haren in the coming weeks. Check it out:

Lineup:

Jose Reyes ........... SS
Luis Castillo .......... 2B
David Wright .......... 3B
Carlos Beltran ........ CF
Moises Alou .......... LF
Carlos Delgado ....... 1B
Lastings Milledge .....RF
Yorvit Torrealba ....... C
Pedro Martinez ...... RHP

Starting Rotation:
Pedro Martinez
Orlando Hernandez
John Maine
Oliver Perez
Mike Pelfrey

Bench:
Damion Easley
Marlon Anderson
Ramon Castro
Carlos Gomez
Endy Chavez
Ruben Gotay

Bullpen:
Billy Wagner
Aaron Heilman
Guillermo Mota/Duaner Sanchez
Scott Schoeneweis
Pedro Feliciano
Jorge Sosa

What do you think? Needs a little work, wouldn't you say? That bullpen worries me more than the rotation.

Update: Thanks for the heads-up, guys. Of course Pedro Feliciano belongs in that mix. Bad oversight on my part. As for Duaner Sanchez, he's going to pitch winter ball, but it may be too early to count him as a lock for next season.

The Mets' strategy of overpaying for Yorvit Torrealba provides some insight into Omar Minaya's plan of saving his prospects for a starting pitcher. How many prospects is the question, and under this scenario, Lastings Milledge is almost guaranteed to be playing somewhere else next season.

Milledge is the only known quantity of the Mets' outfield prospects, which probably makes him the most valuable. Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez both missed significant time last season because of wrist surgery and their development was seriously slowed as a result.

In spring training last year, one Mets official projected that Gomez and Martinez would flank Carlos Beltran in centerfield on Opening Day 2009 at Citi Field. It sounded like a realistic vision at the time. But now it's very wishful thinking, and Martinez, who turned 19 last month, could be the only left in the organization by then.

Milledge has to be considered the starting rightfielder at the moment, and if he goes, that opens another hole for the Mets to fill in the coming months. Endy Chavez is best used off the bench and in spot duty and Gomez is nowhere near ready to play on a regular basis in the majors.

Miguel Cabrera? The Mets don't have the chips to trade for him, especially if they plan on acquiring a pitcher. It's going to take some creative maneuvering by Minaya to pull off a significant deal during the winter meetings, but he's heading to Nashville with that in mind.

Looks like the Mets absolutely, positively won't be getting A-Rod, so David Wright can stay put at third base and Jose Reyes does not have to pack his bags for Minnesota as the centerpiece of a trade for Johan Santana. All that drama for nothing.

Relieved?

Yep. It happened again. So much for the courtship of Jorge Posada. The Mets had to know Posada's heart was still in the Bronx, and despite Omar Minaya's lunch chat with him yesterday, it became crystal clear last night when the Once-and-Future Yankees' backstop agreed on a four-year, $52.4-million deal to stay right where he is.

The Mets already are moving forward on locking up Ramon Castro for backup duty, but they still need a starter, and Posada's decision could let Paul Lo Duca creep into the picture. Here's where it gets tricky with Lo Duca, however. Maybe Lo Duca is OK for one year, possibly two, but if he's thinking a three-year deal, adios. The smart money is probably on Yorvit Torrealba at this point.

David Wright -- along with Mr. Met -- cheered up a group of sick children today in a visit to the NYU Medical Center's Acute Care Pediatric Unit. After spending some time with the kids, Wright took a few minutes to address some of the team's offseason issues, which includes the endlessly hyped free agency of Alex Rodriguez.

As far as him switching positions to accommodate A-Rod, Wright admitted that he did receive a phone call from GM Omar Minaya. But it was more along the lines of a "courtesy call" to let Wright know that he was happy with him at third base and that the Mets had no imminent plan to move him. Here are a few excerpts from today's conversation:

"When I spoke to Omar – and he can obviously talk about that stuff more than I can – it was more to say hello and he wanted to tell me to be prepared to be the third baseman in 2008. That’s what I took from it and that’s how I’m going about my business. I wanted to let him know that in no way, shape or form does he have to go through me about anything.

"His job is to make the trades, sign the free agents, and I told him that I want to win, first and foremost, but as far as talking about changing positions, talking about Alex Rodriguez, his name did not come up once in the conversation.

"It kind of got twisted the wrong way. It got twisted that it was my responsibility to let those guys know that I’m O.K. with them going out and them talking to certain free agents. I appreciate the common courtesy that Omar, but by no way, shape or form do they have to go through me about anything. Those guys are the bosses and I just go out there and play the game."

Wright is also hosting his third annual "Do The Wright Thing Gala" this Thursday at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square to raise money for his Foundation, which works "to have non-committed funds available to aid children in both financial need, and in need of medical support as well as adults with nero-diseases on both an immediate and as needed basis."

Tickets are still available on Mets.com.

If the Mitchell Report was designed to scare the heck out of everyone who has ever played Major League Baseball, it's doing a pretty good job. And this slow torture of occasional leaks and cloak-and-dagger accusations is making people crazy -- MLB officials, the union, agents, players and boatloads of media members, for that matter.

This latest bombshell, that 11 current free agents are listed in the Report, is not good news for baseball as a whole, never mind the alleged cheaters, who may have some interesting penalty clauses in their new contracts.

I'm still not sure how much the fans really care about this stuff. As someone who is around the sport on a daily basis -- inside the clubhouse, etc. -- I'm often asked about who I think the steroid/HGH offenders are. But it's impossible to know for sure, and I'm left guessing like everyone else. Does it really matter to you as a baseball fan? Would you rather just not know? What if your favorite player got busted? It's a thorny issue, and it's only going to get worse when the Report is released around Jan. 1.

UPDATE: OK, so the 11 free agents were asked to speak with Mitchell, and are not merely listed in the report. But they must be linked in some way with illegal performance-enhancing drugs. He's not calling them in for a chat about their offseason vacation plans.

GM Omar Minaya said this morning in Orlando that he now believes some top pitchers will be available via trade this winter -- such as the Twins' Johan Santana -- but what does that mean for the Mets? Things would be much easier if it was a better free-agent market because Minaya has plenty of cash at his disposal. A deep pool of talent-rich prospects? No so much.

You know the list. Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez are the best of the position players. Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey must be considered the only major-league ready talent from a pitching perspective. Got news for you, folks. Any combination of that group may not bring back as much as you might think. Package them all together and I'm not sure it even gets the Twins to stay on the phone.

So where does Minaya go from there? Aaron Heilman ... Carlos Beltran? Forget Jose Reyes. He's not going anywhere. Not sure how creative Minaya can get with a limited group of prospects to work with and that might eliminate the Mets from getting close to a Cy Young candidate. They really need Santana to reach free agency in another year.

Just finished a conference call with Pedro Martinez, his wife, Carolina, and Moises Alou, who are devoting their time and energy to helping refugees from Tropical Storm Noel in the Dominican Republic. Martinez was scheduled to begin his offseason workouts today in Miami, but will stay behind for at least another week to aid the displaced families, many of whom are living in a local school to escape the floodwaters that destroyed their homes.

There are some pressing issues for the Mets this week, but whether or not A-Rod should get $350-million from the Wilpons is probably not at the top of Martinez's priority list as he works to help his devastated nation. Kind of puts things in perspective.

If you want to help out in any way, check out the Mets' release below:

Carlos Beltran and David Wright are the 2007 Gold Glove winners at their respective positions, but not Jose Reyes, who lost out to the Phillies' Jimmy Rollins. The awards are selected through balloting of managers and coaches, but the results are often controversial, and Wright is a prime example this year. The All-Star third baseman committed 21 errors -- four NL third basemen had more and the Brewers' Ryan Braun led the league with 26.

“I have worked hard at trying to become a complete player,” Wright said in a statement released today by the Mets. “I want to especially thank our coach Sandy Alomar who put in so much extra time this season, hitting me ground ball after ground ball.”

Beltran, known as a five-tool player before coming to the Mets, is not what many would consider to be a Gold Glove centerfielder, though this is his second award. Beltran's numerous leg injuries have cut down his mobility in center and his highlight-quality plays have been few and far between.

“I really take pride in my defense and I try to keep improving and improving each season.” Beltran said in a statement. “It’s nice to be recognized for your hard work.”

The Mets first had two Gold Glove recipients in 1999 when shortstop Rey Ordoñez and third baseman Robin Ventura were honored. Beltran, who lead all NL outfielders by averaging 2.76 putouts per game, became the second Mets outfielder to win a Gold Glove last season. Tommie Agee won the award in 1970.

Past New York Met recipients of the prestigious award are Robin Ventura, 3B (1999); Ordoñez, SS (1997-1999); Ron Darling, P (1989); Keith Hernandez, 1B (1983-1988); Doug Flynn, 2B (1980); Buddy Harrelson, SS (1971); and Agee, OF (1970).

With all the hype surrounding Alex Rodriguez, wouldn't it be a smarter move to re-sign Luis Castillo, leave David Wright where he is and pressure Carlos Delgado to put up big numbers in the walk year of his contract? Then divert more of the A-Rod funds to bolster the bullpen, maybe pick up a veteran outfielder and trade a youngster -- Lastings Milledge or Carlos Gomez -- for an established starter like the A's Joe Blanton.

There's no need for the Mets to overreact because of last September's collapse. The supposedly bitter fans aren't going anywhere -- what, they'll buy tickets for the Yankees instead? -- and the Mets still have one of the most talented rosters in the National League. Why blow up everything by bringing in A-Rod? He's just one player. An immensely talented, player, sure. Maybe the best ever. But even $350-million doesn't guarantee anything.

That logic won't stop GM Omar Minaya from chatting with Scott Boras, but we won't see what the Mets' real plans are until the dollars start flying, and that might not begin until the Winter Meetings next month in Nashville.

Before then, it's all pretty much speculation, but that's another thing I don't get about the Mets' approach with A-Rod. If you're not 100 percent committed to bringing him to Queens, I'm not sure what the benefit is to flirting with A-Rod only to fall short when it comes time to write the check. Either go all in or devote your time and resources to solidifying the weakest areas of the roster.

Joe Torre looked thrilled to slip on his new Dodgers jersey this afternoon as the smog dissipated at Chavez Ravine. But his smile probably was nothing compared to the wide grin Willie Randolph must have been wearing as he watched at home in New Jersey.

Randolph's status as Mets manager can best be described as shaky after the treatment he received at the hands of GM Omar Minaya and team ownership on the heels of this season's historic collapse. If Torre had been available at the start of the 2008 season, you can bet Randolph was on a three-month trial period to wipe out the bitter taste of last September's nosedive.

That's not to say Randolph gets a free pass now with Torre safely employed by the Dodgers. Randolph is signed through 2009, but the Mets won't hesitate to cut short his tenure by the All-Star break if things aren't proceeding as planned. How about moving into Citi Field with Gary Carter at the helm? Or Bobby Valentine, back from exile in Japan?

I have to admit, when A-Rod, or actually Scott Boras, announced that he was opting out of his contract with the Yankees, I never imagined the Mets would be a potential suitor for his services. It just seemed to be an impossible fit. Sure paying $300-$400 million to Rodriguez over the next dozen years is enough to scare away any club, regardless of its financial resources. But it wasn't the money that discouraged me.

Finding a spot for him is the biggest obstacle. It's not like the Mets just have anybody playing third base and shortstop. It's David Wright and Jose Reyes, the two young stars this team is supposed to be building around as the Mets move into Citi Field in 2009 and beyond. Reyes isn't going anywhere -- not to another team, and not back to second base, the ill-fated experiment that nearly crippled his career back in 2004.

But moving Wright, despite his team-first attitude, is a terrible idea. Wright is still only 24, played his entire life at third base and should be the next captain of the Mets. True, he doesn't have a great arm at third, but Wright's surprising agility and quick hands help him get to a lot of balls. Wright is not the problem with the Mets, and not why they couldn't hold a seven-game lead with 17 to play in September, so uprooting him should not be part of the solution.

Who knows what effect the position switch would have on his offensive numbers? If he's constantly thinking about his footwork at first base, or the botched play the inning before, it's going to bother him at the plate. Wright, a hard worker and perfectionist, cares too much for that not to happen.

That said, in my mind, the Mets will definitely make a push for A-Rod. I don't agree with it, despite Rodriguez's immense talent and star power, but the Mets probably believe Boras' recent claims that his client energized the YES network all by himself. Kind of what Jerry Seinfeld did for NBC after the Must-See TV days of Family Ties, Cheers and Hill Street Blues disappeared.

If the Mets must have A-Rod, the smart move would be to put Wright in leftfield, but that seems out of the question now that Moises Alou's $7.5-million option has been picked up. I don't like the idea of switching Wright to second base at all. It's a whole different vantage point from over there and even good shortstops can take a while to adjust to life on the other side of the bag. I see that as disastrous, especially for a team that should have World Series aspirations every season. Obviously, the Mets are not heading into a rebuilding year.

The only remaining option is to trade Carlos Delgado, and it looks like the Mets are prepared to do that. Not only did he have a down year offensively, but Delgado shriveled in the spotlight when the Mets were looking for leaders down the stretch. And hiding in the back rooms of the clubhouse to leave guys like David Wright and his friend, Carlos Beltran, to take all of the media heat was cowardly. I'm sorry, but stepping up to the microphones and TV cameras is part of the job in New York and Delgado was a no-show far too often. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he wants out after his disdain for the media.

Finding a taker for Delgado could be difficult, however, and it won't happen unless the Mets a) swallow a large chunk of that contact or b) are willing to accept very little in return. Delgado did hit 24 home runs this season, but his .258 batting average was the lowest of his career since he began playing full-time in 1996. It's going to have to be an AL team, too, so Delgado can DH.

That's quite a task for GM Omar Minaya and COO Jeff Wilpon. Figuring out a way to come up with the cash for A-Rod and trade Delgado as well. One can't be done without the other, and even then, I'm not sure if the Mets will be a better team for it. The Yankees never made it to the World Series with A-Rod and didn't even survive the first round in his last three years. It wasn't all A-Rod's fault, that's for sure. But seems like an odd coincidence nonetheless.