Note: The Next 16 Games
Well, here is where it gets interesting…
Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel have been 
essentially saying, ‘Keep it at or about .500, click days off the calendar, stay within striking distance of the Phillies and wait for the cavalry to return, i.e., Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, John Maine, Oliver Perez and JJ Putz, and hope there is enough time to make a run.’
The thing is, the Mets are at .500 today, at 37–37, and begin a 16–game stretch tonight against the Brewers, Phillies, Dodgers and Reds, and one game against the Pirates, before the All-Star break, after which they immediately travel to Atlanta – at which point the trade deadline will be just 11 games away.
To me, if the Mets can get through this 16–game stretch in July, and still be above .500 and within four games or so of the Phillies, I am certain Omar Minaya will look to trade for young talent.
From what I understand, the Mets are not looking to acquire a rent-a-player.
Instead, they’re seeking a hitter like they got in Xavier Nady during 2006, i.e., a guy in his late 20s, under contract through at least next season, he’s a good hitter, not a slugger, and he will not cost a whole lot in trade because he’s about to start earning more in arbitration and his current team doesn’t want to pay it, such as Rockies OF Ryan Spilborghs or Royals 1B-3B Mark Teahen.
The thing is, if the Mets slip and stumble during these next 16 games, and, instead, they’re around 42–48 and eight or so games out of first, I wonder how Minaya will play the deadline.
My guess is, because of the type of under-contract type hitter he is seeking, Minaya may make the deal anyway, regardless of record, because such a player can be in the mix for the following season as well.
In either case, despite the record and reality, the Delgado-Beltran-Reyes-Wright-Santana-Maine-Perez-KRod Mets are certainly capable of going 30–10 through the end of August and September, I believe, but the team needs to get there first – and a stretch like the next two weeks will do a lot to help bridge that gap.
