Long time NY area sportswriter, Joe McDonald, says the Mets should get Manny Ramirez.

With the Red Sox possibly looking to move the perennial All-Star, now is the time for Minaya to strike and bring the Washington Heights native back to the city to finish his career. It’s obvious the Mets need and outfielder – and some bullpen help as well – and the 36 year-old fills the bill nicely. He will slot right into the middle of the lineup, taking the pressure away from Carlos Delgado – who will cool down eventually – while allowing Carlos Beltran to assume the role he is better suited – a very talented secondary option, where the weight of the team is not his shoulders.

Ramirez will make the Mets a complete lineup which can go toe-to-toe with the Phillies nine on any given night and will give the team the extra runs, so the bullpen meltdowns are kept to a minimum. Even at this advanced age, the slugging outfielder becomes the most feared hitter the Mets have had in the lineup since Mike Piazza terrorized the Senior Circuit in 1999 and 2000.

More importantly, if Minaya is able to acquire Ramirez, New York not only becomes the favorite in the National League, but a serious World Series contender. No matter how well they are playing right now, the Mets are still a very flawed club, which will be lucky to play in October.

Joe takes a more practical and positive glance than do most. And it is true that the addition of Ramirez in the middle of the Mets line-up right now would provide the Mets the largest boost they could get right now.

Still, with the prospects it would cost the Mets, it makes no sense to acquire Ramirez unless you plan on signing him. Herein lies the rub. Would you want to? Would the Wilpons want to commit their money is a moody, aging slugger who has shown that his production is fallling off? They may have had their fill of older players, too.

But what internal discussions are taking place right now at Shea? The ballclub is embracing itself and rallying around the players they have. People who run the club are paid to think more long term and it is why they have proved reluctant to move their top three prospects in Jon Niese, Fernando Martinez and Robert Parnell. Ownership also knows that alot of money is coming off the books after the season.

Its been a sellers market thus far although the ptackage the Yankees gave up to get Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte raised alot of eyebrows. Will sellers back off their demands over the next forty-eight hours?

My own feeling are that the Mets will not be moving any of their top prospects at the deadline as they feel that Niese and Martinez will be part of their roster on opening day next season. In value, the kind of talent that would pry the two away are no longer on the market.

Besides, I want the Mets to keep Jon Niese for one little, nostalgic reason. He was born on October 27, 1986 the day the Mets won the World Series.

Posted under Uncategorized