I Feel Like I'm Taking Crazy Pills

From ESPN.com's Rumor Mill this Saturday.

The Mets have talked to the Red Sox about Ramirez and asked Boston to take second baseman Kaz Matsui in a deal along with Lastings Milledge, Aaron Heilman and other prospects.

Um. No. No. No. No. No. Heilman is an integral part of the more important thing right now in the bullpen. Adding Ramirez would be an amazing thing, but the Mets becoming an all offense and weaker pitching team is a scary thought in a stadium that suppresses offense. They have sufficient punch and they need to shore up the bullpen and not make it worse. Furthermore, taking on that money is just a tough one to swallow at this point when it is more of a luxury than a necessity. I would part with Lastings, but only for a guy on the right side of 30 and with a more manageable salary.

I know I've been over this time and time again, but it is unreal. I hope that rumor was not true. I'm not even sure it makes sense for the Red Sox much less the Mets. It kind of sucks all the way around. Presumably the Red Sox would spin Milledge for some more offense or try and use Marte to get some more offense, but I would like to see this deal die and have Omar get us one more starter and a bullpen arm by Christmas. Leave Kaz at second as the Mets have other options should he not work out and give him a third shot. The guy has the potential to be one of the most productive second baseman in the National League if he can get over whatever mental hurdles he needs to clear. He seemed to be on the right track at the end of the year and might be able to continue that in 2006 with a lot of pressure off him.

Granted, they'd be showing the same disregard for money and/or prospects they showed in the Paul Lo Duca and Carlos Delgado deals, but they could swap righty Aaron Heilman for Tampa Bay closer Danys Baez if they wished.

If anyone can explain to me how this makes sense in any way shape or form, I would love to know. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW!

Though Mets GM Omar Minaya talked with the Devil Rays repeatedly during last week's winter meetings, he remains unwilling to move Heilman for Baez. The reluctance to trade the Mets' 2001 first-round pick is worth reviewing.

Omar is standing by Heilman, but anything is possible when you take in account the desire for Proven Veterans™ by Willie and Omar.

Now onto the real order of business...If it smells like shit, looks like shit, and tastes like shit, it must be shit.

"I never said I wanted to be traded; I said I want to see a better team," said Tejada, who spoke via phone from the Dominican Republic. "I don't want to keep losing like we have the past two years. Look at the division we're in. It's not easy to win without pitching. It's the hardest division in baseball with the Yankees and Red Sox. And look at what Toronto is doing with their pitching staff. They're going to be tough."

You didn't ask for a trade, but it sure sounds like you did. You are a grown up, you are allowed to do that, but like I said, singing in that division, with that team, you must have had a clue that it was an uphill battle for Baltimore to win anything anytime soon. Enough of that....

Jose Reyes for Miguel Tejada? Of course, the likelihood of this going down is slim. Very slim, but as a discussion topic, it is intriguing. We all love Jose Reyes and his electricity, but he is no Miguel Tejada and never will be. The deal straight up would not work so it would be necessary to make the deal a little more encompassing. The Mets would need to clear payroll and the Orioles would need more back. So let's say, Jorge Julio and Miguel Tejada for Kris Benson and Jose Reyes? Remember, Mike Cameron was dealt for then best baseball player in the universe Ken Griffey Jr. and a Reyes for Tejada swap would not be too far off and like in any Manny deal and the Griffey deal, it is impossible to get back equal value and Miggy is not even on that level.

Is this deal plausible? Would it be better to see if Milledge can be subbed for Jose Reyes if Milledge, Benson, and possibly something else could get it done? Should it even be entertained to move Reyes back to second base or try and deal him for something else if Milledge is the one that is spun? Should Tejada move to second base to keep Reyes at short since it is arguable Reyes' upside at short is higher?

Tejada will turn 30 next May and is a middle of the lineup force than can do it all but steal bases. I would say he is worth giving up Reyes or Milledge because he can be one of the top five players in the league when he is firing on all cylinders. Of course these are unlikely scenarios, but the Mets have the juice to get a deal like this done much easier than a deal for Manny and that is plain to see. If Omar wanted to push it and could make him fit on this team, I think a match could be worked out. Where else could Baltimore get a SS back of Reyes' caliber?

* * *

Wowee. I hate the LoDuca trade more as another one of The Metropolitans Minor League sleeper picks was traded in the deal. Dante Brinkley was traded to the Marlins as the PTBNL. Yes, two of my favorites were gone in an deal which I think was a bit premature. Blow me BloDuca. You can shove your intangibles up your ass.

Steve Popper goes over who is still out there in terms of big names.

Barry Zito: The A's say he's not on the market, but with a wink that says, "Ask again when you've got the right package ready."

Bob Raissman is not a fan of Tejada asking to be moved.

For signing a huge deal with the Orioles two years ago and now asking to be traded. Obviously Miguel has been studying from The Book of A-Rod. Tejada said things in Baltimore have not gone in "the direction we were expecting." Dude, er, Dweeb, you should have thought of that when Peter Angelos came around waiving all that cake. Still, you have to admire the chutzpah of Tejada and A-Rod. They get some sucker to overpay them. Then, when the going gets tough, they slither out of their deal and find some other yutz to pick up their contract. And you thought steroids were ruining baseball.

Some Q&A with Billy Wagner:

Q: Favorite New York things?

A: The Empire State Building. People-watching is hilarious.

If he likes to people watch, he'll have no problems adjusting to NYC and finding things to do. These will be the fastest four years of his life.

Good for Bert. He landed a chance to close, albeit with the Pirates, and will get $2.7 million dollars for that one year contract. Sad to see him go, but he deserves the opportunity.

It looks like Vidro could be healthy by Spring. If he is, Omar, use the pitching surplus to get him if he is deadset on moving Kaz. I would rather have him in the two hole instead of LoDuca.

Uggie could have cashed in this off season, but instead he is in jail. Sometimes, people do things they wish they could take back.

Looks like Theo might return back to Boston. Maybe the job market was bad?

Insight into my life....

Friend: I am still going to the Buffalo Vs. Jets game on Jan. 1. Do either of you guys plan to go?

Me: Can I just tailgate and go home?

Friend: Yeah, sure. . . I dont even have a ticket !

Me: Nice..I'm in for some massive drinking...won't we be hung over though?

Friend: No. . . . you can't technically be "hung over" if you never went to sleep in the first place. . . just think of it as the after party!

Me: Ah...I'm with you. I'm dumb.

I might not make it to 30.