I agree that Teixeira, Rivera and Jeter wouldn’t be caught trash talking the Mets … but you could say the same about Gary Carter, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez … but could you say the same about Ray Knight, Lenny Dykstra and Kevin Mitchell? I’m not sure I could.

In the end … both teams have guys that annoy me, but the Yankees stand for everything that is wrong. They manipulate the game with their leverage … something almost all other sports have stopped through salary cap rules, and then pat themselves on the back for it and make up shirts that say “We have 26 rings, how many do you have?”.

They also tend to attract arrogant/pompous/greedy players (and a lot of fans who feel that unless they win every game there is no point in being a fan), where as the Phillies only seem to attract moronic fans based simply upon where they are located. As an organization, I have no issues with the Phillies and even respect them. I can’t say the same for the elitist Yankees.

In other words, there is going to be a ton of teams that would have the means to sign those 3 guys, and the competition might be more fierce than we realize.

I hope I am wrong though, but I just see teams like the Royals, Brewers, Cardinals, Nationals, Rangers, Angels, A’s, Rockies, etc… making plays on these guys.

Personally though, if the Mets come out of this offseason with Matt Holliday, Rich Harden, and a few interchangeable parts like a 2nd catcher, bullpen arm, bench player, etc…then I will be a very happy Mets fan. I think if the circumstances are right, you could get all of that for less than $25 million.

None are going to happen and i don’t know where the Haren talk even sprouted from.

If all of the market is going to be in the 9-10 mil per for 2-3 years, how could an agent justify giving lackey a 5-6 year deal at 15+per. Is he that much better then Harden or Bedard health wise the last 2 years? When healthy has he been that much more effective?

Which is why i think Heyman is right to a degree, but can be totally wrong also. If Lackey is sitting there at a 4 year 45 Mil deal will the mets pounce on that. Most likely.

I like the Idea that he is saying about the mets. Get that bat, because Offense is more predictable over a long term contract then pitching, being that pitchers are more prone to MAJOR injuries that could threaten a career. If you load up the pitchers with say Harden and Wolf. Or Garland and Wolf that would be a pretty solid 1-5. Not spectacular after Johan but solid. But I can’t help but imagine if they spent that extra little money, what a team with

Johan, Lackey, Perez, Harden Pelfrey would be able to accomplish.

Also if the mets are looking to make a trade for a SP. He better be YOUNG and GOOD, or a proven stud (Halladay esque). Or taking on a bad contract in return for Castillo(Harang, Suppan, N. Robertson)

I’d be a happy Met fan. Even happier if we got Lackey or traded for Haren.

Or as the wife said, it’s the Sophie’s Choice of World Series.

You have Jeter and all of his pompous jump-throws and plate antics to try and get balls called, you have the A-Rod/Teixeira sellout scenarios, you have guys I can’t stand watch play because of their indifference and laziness like Robbie Cano, and then guys like Burnett who require personal catchers, guys like Posada who are just brats, and the list goes on.

For me, it’s a no brainer, I am rooting for the underdog and the more likeable team. Sure, Philly fans are atrocious, but that isn’t enough of a reason for me to root for the Evil Empire.

Doug Davis is not a good pitcher. He’s had a WHIP around 1.5. He’s Ollie Perez. At this point, he is rotation filler material, and should be paid as much (2-3 mill one year deal). I’d rather have Hudson 50% of a season than Davis for a full one. He’s also going to be 34.

Garland has been a better pitcher (WHIPs between 1.2 and 1.4) and is more of a pitch to contact guy, who may have some extra value in a park like Citi Field. Because he’s 29 and has had some success and isn’t a BB machine, I tend to agree that he’s a 10MM per guy.

Washburn has some intrigue simply because his WHIP last year was 1.188 over 28 starts (he pitched very well for Seattle). He’s been pretty healthy for a decade (25+ starts per year every year) and is a lefty (always a commodity). Probably in the same 10MM range because of his past success, being lefty, and the strong 2009. He will be 35 next year though, certainly a journeyman.

Rich Harden is a tough one. He’s only 27, and he’s essentially a Ben Sheets clone in that he’s hurt for a portion of every season, and pretty effective when he’s in his groove. He’s a guy I would take a flyer on for sure, because if he can get healthy, he’s an ace. He made 7MM last year, and this is going to be an interesting off-season for him. If you are Harden, do you want a one year deal where you go out and have a hell of a season and then cash in in 2011, or do you settle for a longer term deal at less money?

Bedard is interesting as well. Before his injury in the month of July he was on a tear, and had struck out 13 batters for every 9 innings over his last 4 starts. He’ll be 31, and in a sense, Harden and Bedard are going to be battling for the same suitors, potentially driving their prices down further … and you can lump Ben Sheets in there as well with the high risk, high reward type guys.

I agree that LF should be the priority … but only if the right player is available. If Holliday signs somewhere else, and Bay wants more than would be wise to pay him for his one dimensional game (power only), the Mets should consider other options.

For starters, I don’t think you can under-estimate the value of the rotation, and this year’s free agent crop of starters is actually quite stocked – if you have a good evaluation staff. There are plenty of gems out there this year, the question is going to be which horses will finish strong. Someone is going to guess right on Harden/Bedard/Sheets … and I wouldn’t mind seeing the Mets bring in one healthy/solid guy like a Wolf or Marquis, and also bring in a high risk/reward guy like a Bedard/Sheets/Harden.