The Future is now Ripe for the Picking

There is quite a stir going on in the baseball world now that A-Rod has left the Yankees. And with Hank Steinbrenner really p.o.'d, I doubt there is any chance of A-Rod going back to the Yankees. Which leaves the door of NY City ready to be kicked in by the Mets. Here's why.

A-Rod is the biggest offensive player the game has seen in 50 years. Not even Bonds will be in his league when A-Rod retires. He'll hit over 800 home runs and set just about every record worth noting when he's done playing. I don't care if it cost $35+ million dollars to sign him, the Mets can afford it. They're getting $20 Million a year for the naming rights to the new stadium. Delgado [$16+ Million], Duque' [$6.5 Million], Mota [$3.2 Million], and Pedro [ $11 million] are off the books after next year. Of the 4, only Pedro figures to be back. That leaves plenty of money to pay A-Rod.

A-Rod is the biggest name in baseball, and the Mets would own the city if they signed him. Overnight, it would be the Mets on the back pages of the city papers, not the Yankees. Citi-Field would be the hardest ticket to get in all of baseball. You have to think of the big picture when thinking of A-Rod. He'll break the home run record in CITI-FIELD. What Pedro did was bring respect to the Mets. What A-Rod would bring is multiple years of playoff baseball to the Blue and Orange, and multiple Rings too. A-Rod's Post-season record not withstanding, The Mets will get to the playoffs on a yearly basis. You can't win Championships without getting to the playoffs . And getting to the playoffs on a regular basis is one of the Mets problems. A-Rod's signing would also send a signal to the rest of the league that the Mets are not screwing around anymore. And none of this has any bearing on signing a top notch pitcher. If anything, A-Rod's presence would help bring people like Santana or Peavy to the Mets.

If A-Rod was to sign with the Mets they'd have a few different options as far as fielders go. If A-Rod would move to 2nd base, then Castillo can go somewhere else. If not, Move Wright to 1st, and send Delgado to the Twins in a multiple player deal for Santana. Once Delgado leaves, A-Rod would be at 3rd, Reyes at SS, Gotay or Castillo at 2nd, and David at 1st base. David has already said he'd play anywhere the Mets wanted him to play if it meant getting A-Rod in Shea Stadium. Omar and the Wilpon's can't allow this chance to rule NYC to escape them. A-Rod has said he likes NY, and the Yankees are no longer an option for him. Sounds like the Mets could make a deal for his services, and bring a smile to all their fans faces.

Signing A-Rod and Santana would probably make the Mets the best team in baseball since the '29 Yankees. If only we could to see that day come true, we'd stop dreaming of Rings, because the Mets would be wearing the Rings.