In the Arizona Republic, columnist Nick Piecoro speculates that the D’Backs could look to trade OF Eric Byrnes, though it would be a ‘tough deal.’

Piecoro wonders if the Mets would be interested in acquiring Byrnes, and his two-year, $22 million contract, in exchange for Luis Castillo, who is due to earn [...]

John Maine received arthroscopic surgery today to remove a lesion from the back of his shoulder socket.
Maine will begin rehabbing the injury immediately and should be fully recovered in time for Spring Training.

To watch SNY.tv’s New York Baseball Today, in which Matt and Alex Belth discuss the Mets’ and Yankees’ offseason plans, click play below:

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E-mail the show your hot stove questions at baseball@sny.tv.

Fernando Tatis finished fifth in voting behind Jorge Cantu, Ryan Ludwick, Kerry Wood, and winner Brad Lidge for the Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Tatis was a good story this year, and I liken it to the unexpected contributions that Jose Valentin made while with the team.
I assume the award goes to the player who [...]

For those keeping score, John Maine, Ryan Church, Angel Pagan, Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez and Pedro Feliciano are all eligible for salary arbitration this off-season.
According to Rotoworld.com, Church, Pagan and Maine are under contract through 2011, while Heilamn, Sanchez and Feliciano are under contract through 2010.

The Digital Media Department at SNY is looking for a Fall Intern, who a) must be a current college student eligible for college credit for the internship, and b) be willing to commit a minimum of three business days per week.
If you’re interested, download this application and e-mail it to intern@sny.tv.

Johan Santana has been named the National League’s Pitcher of the Month for September, during which he was 4–0 with a 1.83 ERA.
He had a 2.09 ERA in his last 17 starts.
The way I see it, Santana should win the Cy Young award because no other pitcher in the league was on the mound longer and no other [...]

I am shocked that people actually believe the Mets may entertain trading Jose Reyes or David Wright, two of the best young players in baseball, who are under contract at an affordable rate for the next few seasons.
That is hilarious.  Of course, Omar Minaya didn’t help out reality when he suggested all options are on [...]

Carlos Delgado has a $12 million option in his contract for 2009, or the team can buy him out for $4 million making him a free agent.
The Mets have until five days after the World Series to make an official decision on Delgado’s future.
Delgado explained that he does not have an option on his contact, [...]

John Maine will have surgery today to remove a bone spur on his right shoulder.
Speaking with reporters yesterday from Shea Stadium, Maine said he will be 100 percent by spring training.
…from what i have been told, the reason for concern here isn’t the surgery or the bone spur, but the fact that he got the bone [...]

According to Buster Olney at ESPN.com, David Wright is one of the tangible things that the Mets need to fix for the 2009 season.
In the report, Olney writes:
“They need to help him work through his apparent anxiety in high-pressure situations … He cares so deeply that he puts enormous pressure on himself, and this trait [...]

If you miss Chris Russo on the New York air waves, then click play below to watch his latest Mad Dog Minute.

…i always loved chris’ energy, and frankly, afternoon sports talk radio hasn’t been the same since he left, but jeez, this is a bit much, isn’t it…

Earlier today on WFAN, Mets GM Omar Minaya was asked whether he needs to ‘fill in around his core-group of players,’ or whether he needs to trade a core player to ‘shake things up,’ to which he responded:

“I do believe in them, and we need to put some guys around them, but we also have to [...]

In the Daily News, Adam Rubin frames out the off-season road ahead for Omar Minaya.
According to Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record, Minaya must part ways with Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis, Luis Castillo and maybe even Ryan Church, while also giving serious thought to trading a player like David Wright or Jose Reyes.
Frankly, I need more time to [...]

Lawrence P sent in the following e-mail, which made me laugh:
“Every one is looking for a jinx and a scapegoat and I think I found it.
“On August 7, Giuseppe Franco took batting practice at Shea Stadium.  The team went 27–10 in their next 37 games.  On September 13, Franco’s fan-favorite Precede ad stopped airing on SNY, [...]