One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The Post’s Bart Hubbach reports that the Met’s will be “taking advantage” of the list that became available this weekend when they were cut loose by their clubs.

Good. Some much needed depth and power can be had from the group that includes Jonny Gomes, Jack Cust, Ryan Garko and Garrett Atkins. Amongst pitchers, Hubbach reports that relievers Clay Condrey, Mike MacDougal and Matt Capps could interest the Mets.

I’d look for the Cubs to go after of of these to compete for the closer role. They need someone to close games badly. Getting one of the other two would benefit the Mets’ bullpen.

I’d take any of the others whom can play first and the outfield.

Overall it will be much easier for Minaya to bring in two from this group than it will be to get one of the big three – Holliday, Bay or Lackey. Some reports have the Mariners have entered the bidding and Bay has been quoted as saying he would love to play near his Canadian home.

At the very least, the thought that the Mets were going to take advantage of the heft that was removed from their payrol last year. The Wilpons have told the basball people to they can improve the club via free agency.

But to really put themselves back into the conversation – which in New York is crucial – they will have to sign one of the big three. Getting a couple of non-tendered won’t get it done for a critical media and a wounded fan base.

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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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This is good news.

As Putz only needed to have spurs removed, his return this season was likely. If he had soft tissue damage to a ligament or tendon, it would have been see you next year.

A return of both Putz and Billy Wagner seems imminent sometime this month. There wasn’t any need to spend what few minor league assets the Mets had on an arm with these two returning.

September could be different in that Manuel will have an expanded roster with more players on the bench to pinch hit. A bullpen that includes Putz and Wagner will benefit a staff who’s starters do not go deep into games. If the Mets recall a catcher, they will be able to pinch-hit and double switch comfortably.

If they are in contention it will make sense to promote the two major league bats that are on the AAA roster in Mike Lamb and Nick Evans.

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Metsblog- which realistically publishes the wild card standings – shows that the Mets are six back in the loss column from three teams – the Giants, Cubs and Rockies. They share the same deficeit with two other teams – the Astros and Brewers. Watch those teams and keep track of the loss column. The Mets will need to lower this number between now and the four-game series with the Giants at Citi Field two weekends from now. They finish the month with 3 games in Chicago. They will need to win both series to have a shot to contend for the wild card next month.

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For the five or six folks whom still read my drivel:

2:33: Mets win 7-0. Tim Redding finished up. Nice DP started again by Daniel Murphy. Like Gary said at the end, this can be the best day of the season if we can get tonight’s game.

2:22: To the 9th. We lead 7-0. They just showed Rockies coach Don Baylor. My own memory of Baylor come from the 1986 World Series when he almost hit me with a foul ball in the 3rd base dugout. I tripped and smashed face first into one of the polls. After I put ice on Gary Carter’s knee after the game, I held an ice bag over the right side of my face. A real big league dork moment.

2:02: Santana’s done, leaving with a 6-0 lead after 7. Bobby Parnell will relieve. That was my first look behind the scenes at Citi Field. Nice shot by SNY getting Santana walking up the runway. A Cora single and David Wright double makes it 7-0.

1:54: For those of you whom don’t already. You need to have Tim Dierkes’ MLB Trade Rumors minimized today. No other site covers it better.

1:50: Cory Sullivan’s had a nice game. Two hits – one a triple, an RBI. Three nice plays in leftfield. He can play CF, too, so their might be something to the talk that the Mets could move Jeremy Reed to the Rockies. They don’t need them both.

1:46: They’re talking about Bob Apodaca, the former Met and Rockies pitching coach. I had the proviledge of working with “Dac” in the 1983 season in Jackson AA Texas League. Great pitching coach-better person.

1:35: Gary and Ron spoke about Omar Minaya’s comments today and were disappointed that Minaya didn’t really “close the door” on the issue. And I am glad that Darling was very Mets get to 6-0 after an Angel Pagan triple.

1:30: Mets lead 5-0 after 5.

1:28: Santana just dove after a ball that got by first base and Ronnie said that when Santana is in the game “he seems to be the toughest guy on the field.” That’s high praise.

1:21: SI’s Jon Heyman reports that the Marlins are close to getting Heath Bell.

1:10: Cory Sullivan single-handedly kept the Rocks from scoring with two really good plays in left.

1:07: They’re saying how well Billy Wagner is doing well. What a great set-up guy Wagner would be for K-Rod.

1:04: Geez, I didn’t know Matt Cerrone was doing TV spots, too on SNY. What a major media star he’s becoming. Still, what an amazing rise in success from a man with a vision.

12:58: Santana’s 4th strikeout. He must be really filthy today as the Rocks are swinging and missing alot….and missing the ball by a mile.

12:53: Plug here for Gary, Ron and Keith’s web site

12:48: 5-0. Notice I had trouble decided how to spell drivel.

12:44: Ronnie talked about the squeeze play and that the hitter has to answer back. I however remembering that the Cubs during the 80′s required no such answer. They have just better get it down or the thing blew up. Plus, some clubs knew that Keith Hernandez was not only good an snuffing it out defensively, but he was good at stealing the sign from the manager in the dugout.

12:40: Cool. Five straight basehits. 4-0. Great to see Cory Sullivan and Angel Berroa get hits.

12:37: Four straight hits. Good guys lead 2-0. Ron’s complementing the offensive approach.

12:32: After running out to get a sandwich…..Murphy just doubled to lead off the 2nd…..Gary talked about the astonishing drop-off in stikeouts by Santana…..Francouer first pitch single to right…..Ron said its that there is a slight drop-off in velocity and that he’s missing inside. I wonder if its that Santana is trying to get more contact from hitters and getting deeper into the ball game.

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The BAs of the line-up are steady. Just not at the right time. A starter with and early leave might make all the difference in the game by a pitcher still not with his best stuff,Alttle meeting of the ways between the two will prove dividends. .and rescue Danial Murphy from being a scrificial lame – another Met infielder made to play another position. the club has a historical habit of going here in Gregg Jefferries, Howard Johson, Jeff Kent, etc. History tends to repeat. The only resolution will be a trade of Murphy(unliklely) or a let go of Carlos Delgado to give Murphy a position. The way a young players carreer is mananged often can overwhelm his talent. It can here, too, with the constant drama that goes on with any Murphy mistep in the OF. No way this helps his hitting.

A further trouble is that the Mets have rarely been decisive in player development until having their hand forced.They cannot let Murphy go the year with the label of being an outfiled pariah that sours on fans and kills his hitting. They’ve done this before. Nvermind what this does in the clubhouse. It is here where the Manual – Minaya realtionship will be tested. If it has too much Tony Bernazard, its too bad for all parties concerned. Its conceivable that Murphy could go to Buffalo to save his season and career.

If the Mets had done just this with Gregg Jefferries in 1989 with a Juan Samuel and a Mookie Wilson still in their prime, it could have been the Mets and not the Cubs whom won the division. Sammy at second with Mookie in center batting 1-2. Lets do this and go get the division title

Over dinner one night in St. Louis in 1989, I pressed this upon Mookie Wilson and he said it was too late for that. The next day he was traded for Jeff Mussleman from Toronto and Frankie Viola was acquired from the Twins. Wilson knew it had already been done and wanted to have a last dinner with the turds before he left.

So with Daniel Murphy the Mets cannot repeat themselves. While Jefferries was a bit of a social recluse, Murphy seems to have the support of his teammates. Hopefully they won’t let him get down as he finds himself in and out of the line-up depending on the defensive needs of the club.

Citi Field is big and Murphy might give way to Ryan Church and Jeremy Reed. Even the elevation of Fernando Martinez makes sense at a certain point. The Mets are faced with the reality that their outfield is going to have to be more athletic now. The Mets need to make sure they dont lose Murphy in the mean time.

NOTE: From my just a though category. Look for the Mets to consider giving Casey Fossum a start. He wasn’t bad last year, pretty good in the spring and frankly the best starter they had out of an abysmal Buffalo staff.

Is anyone but me shocked at how flippant the Mets seem with pitching….Darren O’Day: why bring him in at all if he’s going to be lost when the first stress is put on the roster. The Mets wasted good company time and mound time on someone they knew might pitch so little they want folks to forget about it. …….Nelson Figueroa is another story. Why burn him? Geez, it seems almost reckless.

m

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