Question of the Day (7/23/09)

In the past 2 seasons, the Mets have collapsed in the last weeks of the season, choking away division leads and playoff hopes. This season is a whole new ballgame (no pun intended). With injuries to most of the team and with losses coming in large bunches, what will be the hand the Mets play at the trade deadline? Will the Mets sell off their pieces (whatever those might be) and try and re-tool for next year or will they try and convince themselves they can still make a run and be buyers?

*If the Mets offer a complete package of players to Toronto, they might be able to steal Halladay away from their division rivals, but that would mean throwing in the towel for this year (which is inevitable), but it would mean they could secure the two best pitchers in the league as their 1, 2 punch. One of the Mets big stars would have to be part of that package, along with Niese and F. Martinez, which should be fine if the team brass decide to turn their focus towards defense and pitching. Citi field is not a hitters ball park and if the Mets have Beltran in center, Francoeur in right and if the deal with Toronto goes the way its thought to go, Alex Rios in left. Matt Holliday could be an option, but Oakland will want real prospects in return. A solidified defense in the outfield means the infield would need to be fixed, mainly at first base. Delgado is an injury ridden star that can't be trusted to stay healthy all season and is 37 and Daniel Murphy is a huge gamble because he hasn't hit well and his defense is shaky. Minaya (if he is there next year) will have to make another deal for a first baseman, not David Ortiz and not Mo Vaughn. The Red Sox might deal, since they just traded for Adam LaRoche in Pittsburgh or maybe a guy like Nick Johnson in Washington. Whatever the Mets decide, they have to realize that this season is a bust and the future is too important to ignore. Too many NL teams are getting younger and better (Braves, Giants, Dodgers, Phillies, Marlins, Houston, St. Louis) and if the Mets don't follow suit, they will be in the bottom of the barrel for a long time.