Omar Minaya: Chance for Redemption

One thing has been apparent to me as a Mets fan for 47 years. The most important thing on my mind and my most important priority is for the team to win. I challenge every Met fan on site to disagree with the notion that, although we care about everything that is "Mets," winning takes the prize.

For better or worse, for the past couple of years, we have discussed both the good and bad moves that Omar Minaya, the Mets' general manager, has made during his tenure. Personally, I have flipped-flopped so many times I feel like a spinning dreidel.

I loved the moves that sent Pedro Martinez, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana, and Francisco Rodriguez to the Mets.

I cringed when Minaya brought Luis Castillo and the 40+ geriatrics club to the team.

I felt there were deals that could have happened and questioned many those that did.

Along with everyone else, including Vegas sports book directors, we all thought the Mets, with their improved bullpen, would certainly be able to make up ground on the improved Phillies.

We all know what happened, and although there is still a glimmer of hope because Jerry Manuel has finally learned, and admitted as such, that a set lineup is the way to go, the climb back to playoff contention does not rest on a four-game winning streak.

Minaya certainly reached a low point in his tenure this week, and all the damage control that the Wildons are trying to do still leaves Minaya in the untenable position of having to deal with the media every day.

This is not a position any general manager wants to find himself in, especially in New York where the scrutiny is 1,000 times more than any other city in the world.

Okay, so, in terms of the Mets' faithful, is there anything that Minaya can do to redeem himself and, at the same time, put his team in a better position during the 2009 and 2010 season.

The answer is Roy Halladay. He is available for the right price, and don't kid yourself; the Mets have the goods to get him.

But it's not going to come cheap.

First, it's a well-known fact that the Blue Jays must get this deal done. They want a Major League pitcher who is with the big club. They want another pitcher or two, one with the big club and one great prospect who, within two to three years, would easily fit into the rotation. And they want one regular high-level prospect who will be a quality Major League hitter.

The Phillies have not made that offer, neither have the Angels. It was once reported that Mets did so. That wasn't true because if that original offer was made by the Blue Jays, even Minaya would have jumped all over it.

I like Mike Pelfrey. He has shown tremendous improvement over the last three years, and who can predict his ceiling? Could it be as high as Roy Halladay? I believe not.

Here's the package that the Blue Jays would not turn down.

Why? 

It's infinitely better than what any team has offered them so far.

Along with Pelfrey, the Mets would send Bobby Parnell, Brad Holt, and Ike Davis to the Jays. Maybe they will throw a minor prospect back at us in return. Frankly, I don't care if they do or they don't.

Ray Halladay, as we speak, is the best pitcher in baseball. A combination of Halladay and Santana would make CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett look pale in comparison.

I would make this offer right now before some other team like the Phillies up their offer and give them both J.A. Happ and Kyle Drabek plus two of their top hitting prospects.

Omar, this is you chance for redemption. If you make this deal, 95 percent of the negativity you are now receiving will do an about-face.

If you want to have a job next year despite your "vote of confidence," I would suggest you get on this immediately, and while you're at it, I'd give your buddy Adam Rubin a call and give him this exclusive. You owe him that much.

SO now the Phillies have Lee. Who does not want to make the deal now or should we get our places on Broad Street for the parade?.