Pressure is on Minaya, Mets to make right moves
Photo credit: Newsday File / Sept. 2009 / Kathy Kmonicek | Mets Luis Castillo hits an RBI single against the Braves at Citifield.
INDIANAPOLIS - One of the hotel's many Christmas trees served as a fitting backdrop as Omar Minaya hosted an impromptu news briefing last night on the eve of these winter meetings.
With an anxious fan base desperate for some holiday cheer after the worst of three consecutive seasons of disappointment, there is a much different feel this year - and not because the 2008 meetings were held at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Minaya is feeling the heat to remodel the Mets, to restore credibility to his ailing franchise, and his job could very well hinge on what happens in the next four days here. Despite a cool exterior that began to melt toward the end of last season, Minaya knows it, too. "I don't want to say you feel pressure to do something," he said. "But there's no doubt we have to try to find a way to improve our club if possible. This year it's not as clear as it was last year.
"Last year we needed a closer and we ended up getting two closers. This year we have more pieces that we have to fill in. Are we going to be able to fill them all in? I don't know that. But as far as the pressure itself, when you start putting pressure on yourself that you have to get something done, that's not good."
A year ago at this time, COO Jeff Wilpon hopped on his private jet to help close the $37-million deal with Francisco Rodriguez. It was that simple. As of now, however, there are no plans for Wilpon to join the Mets' contingent, and that means nothing is close with free-agent stars such as John Lackey, Matt Holliday or Jason Bay.
Minaya made reference to a "wish list" for these meetings and the Mets' needs are obvious. Despite signing a pair of backup catchers last week, they're still in the market for a starter, and free agent Bengie Molina remains the top priority. Minaya also is hunting for another starting pitcher, perhaps by trade, but it does not appear that Roy Halladay is among that group.
As for another outfield bat, MLB.com reported that the Mets have interest in Josh Willingham, and they remain active in trying to deal Luis Castillo. No matter how much the Mets try to push for Holliday, that deal is very unlikely to happen here as the market - manipulated by agent Scott Boras - could take weeks to develop.
With the relative shortage of top-tier free agents, however, Minaya did suggest that a more prolific trade environment could be the direct result. One person familiar with the Mets' thinking said Minaya has arrived in Indy with a detailed list of possible deals, hatched over previous phone conversations, and he's hoping to pull off a few.
"There has been some trade potential that has been out there," Minaya said. "I know I've talked to a few GMs and we're hopefully going to get together and further along the discussions. I think this year, because of the market, teams are willing to at least make an attempt to try and fill the needs via trade if possible. More so than past years, at least the dialogue, that's what I sense."
Then again, can the Mets really afford to be patient? "You know what?" Minaya said. "I think you have to identify what you want and then do the best you can to go get it."
