The Mets are Down with OPP

A few days after the Mets season ended I wrote my offseason plan.

"Absolutely, positively, sign Oliver Perez, no matter the cost. It will probably cost 6-years, $90 million," I wrote.

Thankfully, the Mets came to their senses and got Perez at a bargain basement price. The Mets needed to fill a hole in their rotation and they did by getting a good (not great), young pitcher, at well below market value. Over the past 2 seasons Perez and Derek Lowe have essentially been equals (slight edge to Lowe) and Lowe got much more money, an extra year, and he's 8 years older. Based on market conditions this is a steal for the Mets.

In October I wrote, "The best fit might actually be Manny Ramirez. He can hit under pressure and his lax attitude, while galling at times, may be exactly what this team needs to avoid folding under pressure again."

But that's not going to happen. I think he's exactly what they need, but the Mets are not interested in acquiring his attitude, his surliness, his capriciousness and of course his huge salary. That's because it would put the Mets over the luxury tax, something they said they won't do.

It's not because they lost $300 million to Madoff (that was a separate business venture), it's not because they are worried Citigroup won't give them the naming rights money and it's not because they're cheap jews. It's because they're trying to operate their business on a budget.

And as much as I love Ramirez, I can't say I blame them for that.

And I reiterate, the Mets came up just a couple games short the last two years. They didn't need a makeover, they needed some improvements, and K-Rod and Putz should add 10 wins between them. So if everyone else combines to play only 5 games worse, the Mets should finally make the playoffs.