THE METS SIGN ZITO!

Well, not yet. But hopefully this all gets wrapped up before I go incommunicado for New Year's weekend. We know that the Angels have said they are out of the Zito bidding, but we also know that anything can happen and Moreno could fish into his deep pockets for cash. The Dodgers seem set with pitching, the Cubbies should be tapped out after signing Jason Marquis, the Giants suck, and the Padres are assuredly out of the running. What really concerns me now is that fact that the Rangers have put out an offer, but no one knows what it really is. Hell, do we even know if an offer was actually placed?

This is where Scott Boras excels. The Mets could very well be bidding against themselves and a phantom bid. I said that even though the Daisuke signing was a different circumstance, there are things to be learned by the way the Red Sox handled themselves. Omar is going to be tough in regards to these negotiations. I do think that the Mets truly believe Barry is a vital part to the 2007 Mets, but I also believe they will not do whatever it takes to get him and they will not let Boras get them to bid against themselves.

Now the Mets are taking the show on the road in an attempt to ensure Barry sees the painfully obvious benefits of him being on the Mets. What they need to do is find that sweet spot that will make him come to New York for less money than Hicks may or may not have offered him.

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Plant Zito? Believe it.

Let's all take a moment and pray for Calvin D.

What is the status of Steve Trachsel? I really like him, but I'm concerned that he's not listed as a pitcher on the Mets' roster.
-- Calvin D., Hurricane, W.Va.

Trachsel no longer is on the Mets' roster. He is a free agent, and the Mets have decided not to pursue him.

I'd love to make fun of Steve Phillips for being wrong, but I never though he would actually sign either.

The Alex Rios on the block rumors are certainly interesting.

An intriguing possibility would be a Mets-Jays swap for Rios. The Mets were ready to swoop in and make a pitch for Wells if his negotiations fell apart, and threads of those conversations might be picked up in a Rios deal. As Barry Zito and his agent know, the Mets don't have much in the way of established, front line starting pitching, but they do have depth in young, inexperienced starters, like Aaron Heilman.

Now, I do not think that Heilman would get a deal done and I do not think the Mets really have much of a match since the Blue Jays would be looking for more of a sure thing, but you never know. The Mets also have Lastings Milledge for an expanded deal, but where does that really get the Mets? I've liked Rios as a prospect for a long time, but the power was just never there....except for two months in the beginning of 2006. Other than that? Not so much. Not before that and not when he returned after injury.

The Blue Jays might be highly advised to move Rios for the simple fact his trade value might be as high as it is going to get...or he could really be a five tool stud. I think it is a toss up right now. I do not think it's a question of if Alex will be good, but more of how good. A .300 hitter with 10-12 homers annually and great defense at a corner outfield spot or a .300 hitter with 25 or so homers? The former is not worth what it might take to pry him loose and the latter certainly would be. There would be too much risk in acquiring Alex Rios for a top young arm especially since the Mets are more in need of an arm than a bat. Lastings Milledge may very well end up being better than Alex Rios at this point while Rios will cost significantly more over the next few years and it cannot be ignored that Rios will turn 26 this February and has 28 homers in 385 big league games.

Unless the Mets can pull of a deal of the Heilman for Rios ilk, which makes little sense for the Blue Jays, it simply is not worth it. He's an intriguing player, the Mets are sufficiently deep with toolsy outfielders and might be better advised to dish some off rather than stockpile more while losing pitching depth.

Jeremy Bonderman gets extended for four years at $38 million and it's a good deal for both sides.

Bonderman gets $4.5 million next year, $8.5 million in 2008 and $12.5 million in each of the following two seasons.

The Mets are guaranteed to have four of the top 100 picks.

Huh?

"Pittsburgh's not ready yet," the official said. "(The Yankees) have an interest, but I don't know if (they) would do Cabrera for him."

See the above Buster Olney link for stats on Gonzalez in regards to him being 7th in the bigs in 1-2-3 innings with .389% of his innings having three guys come up and three guys get out. He might have his control issues, but he is certainly worth more than Melky Cabrera. The Pirates getting LaRoche who hit 32 homers makes a bit more sense, but I still think Cabrera is getting over valued in the deal for LaRoche. I wouldn't mind the Braves getting a lesser player, but the Yankees would pull off another coup in the end if this deal goes down.