My proposal to Toronto for Downs was Evans and Adam Kennedy. Kennedy upgrades their infield, and cost the same as Downs so they’re not raising payroll. They have a really good bullpen even with out Downs. Nick Evans is only 22, and skipped Triple A yet still managed a respectable contribution. Evans has potential, and could be a real coup for Toronto. A Toronto team that has publicly acknowledged a disenchantment with the incumbent First Baseman – Lyle Overbay, and also has injury concerns with incumbent Third Baseman – Scott Rolen. Left Field is far from locked up, and Nick Evans is a versatile guy that gives them a bunch of options.

Freel has no place to play in Baltimore, and was largely included in the package as a salary counter-weight. I think he’s definitely expendable, and Baltimore would relish getting the professional Catcher they desire for essentially just 1+ million in additional costs.

Niese to Texas for a young Catcher makes sense on both sides because we need a young Catcher and they want young pitching.

I’ll take Bonds…and Alou…but I’d rather have Manny.

Alou is worth a roster spot, and would put up better numbers in Left than a Tatis/Murphy platoon. What do you think we’ll get out of Left right now with what’s in the organization? .260 12 60…if that? Alou can still hit…when healthy. So what, he’ll get hurt; then we’ll be left with what we have anyway. No big whoop. Try not to over value a roster spot. As for El Duque…I have no problem extending him a Minor League contract.

The Cardinals would get a the lead-off hitter they lack in Castillo for just 2 million more than they’re paying Kennedy. Muniz defrays the additional expense, the Cards lack depth and two for one here would be great for them. Kennedy has never scored 100 Runs in his entire career, but Castillo probably would batting lead-off in front of Pujols and company. Kennedy had a .321 OBP last year, and Castillo had a .355 OBP in a toxic environment and a down year. The Cardinals would be stupid not to take advantage of this opportunity.

Baltimore is looking to acquire a Catcher, and were recently talking to Pudge. They traded Ramon Hernandez to save money, and Had to take back Freel because of his contract. If they can then trade off that contract for Schneider they’d essentially get their segue Catcher into Wieters for like a million+….not bad. They have no place for Freel to play really. He’s highly expendable in my opinion.

I think Niese, Kunz, and Bowman is a very fair deal for Saltalamaccia or Teagarden. I’d swap out Bowman for Jennry Marte(a 4 star prospect) if need be. What about John Maine? I’d give them Maine straight up, and then go with Niese /Parnell for the fifth spot if I had to…or better yet BEN SHEETS!! Bottom line is the Mets have the pieces to get it done.

When I said if Lowe wants $16M, give him $16.5, what I meant was do what it takes to get him. You can try to lower the cost a bit, but in the end, the Mets will have to be prepared to pay Lowe fair market value + a premium to make sure we get him; and the same goes for Sheets.

Garland, Wolfe, Ollie etc. will simply not do if we wish to have a serious team in 2009. They are insufficient. It will be a huge risk.