A few days ago, I wrote of a need for a “hard pivot” in the Mets’ off-season efforts. With some subtlety, some are suggesting just that - and to Matt Holliday.

Scott Boras represents Holliday and, unlike many clubs, is known to have a good working relationship with the Mets. Carlos Betran’s deal is over after 2111 when he will be 34. David Wright will be 28. Jose Reyes will be 27. Holliday will be just 31. Even with a down year this year, I cannot see either Reyes or Wright being moved and thus will be under considerable contracts.

If the Mets have a blueprint that still includes Fernando Martinez, he can be the Mets centerfielder of the future. Martinez also will represent a left-handed bat. Two righthanded in Weight and Holliday. two lefthanded in Reyes and Martinez.

I think the Wilpons know that they will have to spend money to protect their investment. So in this event Holliday fits the template. And along with a starter, say Joel Piniero, can make the club relevant for next season.

Few people know what wishes Holliday has given to Boras. Holliday is from Oklahoma may truely want to remain in St. Louis. Boras could be just finding someone to play to get as much money from the Cardinals as he can. And the big elephant in the room remains Albert Puhols. Will the tight-fisted Bill DeWitt pay enough for them both?

Minaya and the Wilpons have had many negotiations with the slippery Boras and may be able to read him to some extent. But Boras also may not want to burn a club that has signed his players before. Nonetheless, Boras is getting what he wants in drawing the Mets – a club that pays top dollar for top talent – into the picture.

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Adam Rubin’s well reasoned piece today speculated on the Mets dealing Billy Wagner via waiver trade by August 31.

If the Mets do this it needs to be a baseball decision that’s weighed against the talent that would come in a trade versus what the Mets would get as a compensatory draft pick next June. But the Mets have been sending signals that its about the money right now. Lets hope this isn’t a snag.

Adding a healthy Billy Wagner to a contender’s bullpen must be intriguing right now for teams and their fans. He makes sense for team like the Cubs, Cardinals and (hold your breath) the Yankees. However, a Wagner trade could be blocked by an opposing GM to keep him from going to a rival. Yesterday’s acquisition of Chad Gaudin by the Yankees isn’t necessarily indicative of the gentleman’s agreement to keep the waiver wire open. It’s early in the month and Gaudin is not a player of significant caliber.

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For 3B Josh Bell and pitcher Steve Johnson. I don’t believe that the Dodgers are done and know they really need a top of the rotation guy for the play-offs. This piece by Gerry Fraley speaks to this.

Fraley makes the excellent point in their match-up against the Cardinals at home where they were dominated by Cris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Joel Pineiro. Facing Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee will be no day at the beach either. But do the Dodgers want to move their young starters. Its what it will take.

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