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Well if that were the best option out there it certainly seems reasonable but the Mets are going to have a good deal of financial flexibility this year now that Mo Vaughn's contract is off the books.

I think they should try and trade Cliff Floyd, which they should be able to do if they pay 75% of his salary and go after Beltran hard.

You know I'm with you, Jay. It is imperative that the Mets throw the kitchen sink at Carlos Beltran. We all know he's represented by Scott Boras, but play up the fact that the Mets have a Latin-American GM, offer him six years, $96 million, and be done with it. I'm not saying the Yankees won't go beyond that, but at least make a real effort, not one of these 3-year, $30 million BS offers with incentives that failed to net Vladimir Guerrero last year.

I'd even go past six years. He'll be 28 next April. Trump everyone and go seven or eight. He'll be 36 when his contract expires if you give him eight and he should still be good. He will no doubt decline, but superstar outfielders (Sosa aside) are usually still productive at 36.

My only thing is that the Wilpons are very scared to go up against Steinbrenner. If they lose, I'm not sure they could handle the perceived egg on his face. The papers would have a field day and I'm sure he does not want that.

Go eight? How many five year contracts actually benefit their team throughout their duration, let alone above that magical threshold?

At any event, I wouldn't go after him in the first place. They wont net him, they'll only manage to further piss off their entire fan base, and they may miss out on a viable alternative in the process.

I'm with Luis, albeit in lower-case letters.

-- Attila

Absolutely no way on Sosa! On Floyd vs Sosa alone, I'd take Floyd because of his cheaper salary and lefthanded bat. Floyd took alot of heat this year, but last year he was a warrior and cheered. Perhaps being on a miserable team got to him. I'd rather cross my fingers and hope for 100-120 productive games next year.

His comments may have pissed off management, but we havent seen Floyd behave like Sosa.

I'd trade Floyd and Stanton for Sosa, but I suspect the Cubs could do better.

I think Sammy has better potential than Floyd to rebound next year, and a merely average Sammy would probably set single season power records with the Mets.

Sure, bid away at Beltran, but if the guy is willing to come to NY, Steinbrenner is not going to be outbid by us, and, uh, which team would you choose if you were Beltran?

I think our best option is to take on cr@ppy contracts from smaller market teams. My favorite position players would be Jason Kendall and Todd Helton both of these guys would cost nothing in players, except maybe a bad contract in return like Piazza or Stanton, and the teams would have to throw a bag of money in as well.

Say we traded Floyd and or Stanton to Colorado, and took Helton back with Colorado tossing in enough $$ to make his deal $12 mil every year (until 2011). Then we get Kendall for whoever doesn't go to the Rockies with enough cash to cap Kendall annual at $8 mil until 2007.

That gives us a #2-3 batter in Kendall, and a number 4 batter in Helton, both All-Star caliber in their primes. Fire sale Piazza to anyone you can.

Reyes
Matsui
Kendall
Helton
Wright
Hidalgo
Cameron
Floyd or FA or V.diaz

All these big trade talks are what every Met fan has done for the last 6 years. I argee that Beltran is a nice addition. As are Kendall and Helton. But after the years of Mike Piazza, Cliff Floyd and Kaz Matusi, the Mets organization will eat a lot of money to trade them. Piazza for Green? No. How bout a young established Pitcher in the AL as well as a minor league hitting prospect in the outfield. Jason Kendall would be a great addition but Id rather have a linedrive-laserbeam hitter like Maggilo Ordonez. Cliff Floyd is successful in SHea when he is healthy cuz that is the only way to score runs....high flys get held in the park. And if I hear bout Orlando Cabera in a mets uniforn at shortstop one more time I'll go crazy!. Keep Reyes, make him ur shortstop! cuz that is what he is.

Stanton is on the Yankees...What the hell are you guys talking about?