Memo To Omar: Invest On Big Names

Reports circulated that Mets general manager Omar Minaya is hesitant to spend the money on the stars of the 2010 free agent class. His approach is to build around the team with lower-level free agents.

Typically, Minaya loves to target the big names and do whatever it takes to get their signature on the dotted line of the contract, and that approach worked out well for him, but with the team playing awful these last two years, he realized it was time to change the way he does business.

This is the wrong time for him to do that especially in light of the Yankees winning a World Series championship last week. After how this season turned sour for the Mets, they need to spend the money to get the best players in this uninspiring free agent market.

It worked for the Yankees this past season.

The Mets feature a roster that has many weaknesses along with an abysmal farm system so it's imperative for them to spend.

As a big-market team, the Mets benefit from overcoming past mistakes by displaying an unlimited amount of financial resources so they have an advantage over the teams in their division even with Bernie Madoff stealing money from Fred Wilpon.

The Metropolitans must target three guys that can be difference makers in 2010.

Jason Bay fits what they need when they look for an outfielder. He hits for power and doubles, and he plays well defensively.

He knows what he is doing. He played in Boston so playing in New York won't be a problem based on his experience of playing in a pressure cooker.

No one can say that about Matt Holliday. Holliday would be a poor fit since Citi Field would be tough for him or any good hitter to hit with the park being devoted to defense and pitching.

He is not worth the money that Mark Teixeira received from the Yankees last year especially with him being on the downside of his career. He peaked during his heyday in Colorado, and odds are he won't match those numbers again after performing decently this past season with the Athletics and the Cardinals.

The Mets need to fix the starting rotation. For them to do it, they should go after John Lackey and Brett Myers so that they can complement Johan Santana.

By signing those two, Mike Pelfrey can develop as the fourth starter rather than being the second starter. The Mets forced Pelfrey to take on the role of the second starter when he never pitched like one in his career.

Once they nab Bay, Lackey and Myers, they can sign those complementary players to build around the team, and based on recent history, those guys will likely get their contracts a month before spring training so there is no need to sign them before signing the crown jewels.

Forget about Roy Halladay. The Blue Jays are not going to accept garbage for an ace unlike the Twins so stop with the fascination of him wearing a Met uniform.

This goes for any other player that the Mets like to get in a trade.

After the Mets finish their player transactions, they should pay up for a new manager by hiring Bobby Valentine. He would be an improvement over Jerry Manuel. Valentine would demand accountability out of his team, which is something Manuel can't say.

This division is there for the taking. The Phillies will likely deal with the hangover of not winning a championship while the Marlins are a young team that doesn't know what it takes to be a playoff team. The Braves are not what they used to be, and the Nationals are the Nationals.

Now is not the time to act like a small-market team.

The Amazins need to seize the opportunity.

Minaya's job can be saved by doing those things so he would be a fool not to do it.