Mets Rumor Roundup

I owe you some rumors, yeah?  Let’s get cracking by looking at the Mets.  Can’t beat Matthew Cerrone’s MetsBlog for the latest.  A rundown follows

The New York Post reports that the Mets would not even go to four years, $32MM on Julio Lugo.  After all, it’s just second base.

Does the Ambiorix Burgos acquisition free up Aaron Heilman for a deal, perhaps with Oakland?  Not automatically, given that Burgos is very raw.

The big fish is of course Barry Zito.  The Mets don’t view him as a #1 starter and hesitate to top Roy Oswalt’s 5/73 deal.  It will be hard to beat Tom Hicks, if he has his mind set on it.  As Doc Brown told us, "if you set your mind to it, you can accomplish anything."  Sounds like the Mets have not yet made an offer but have met twice with Scott Boras.  Word is that they will go five years at most.

The Mets talked to various teams about trading for starters like Javier Vazquez, Freddy Garcia, Rodrigo Lopez, Jake Westbrook, or Cliff Lee according to John Delcos.

The Mets met with Mark Mulder’s agent Gregg Clifton yesterday.

Bob Nightengale threw out a juicy rumor yesterday: Lastings Milledge and another prospect for Rich Harden.  Seems rare to see a guy dealt with that kind of injury uncertainty, but you never know.  Many sources have reported a more reasonable Milledge for Joe Blanton possibility.  Any such deal with Oakland could involve Heilman as well.  The A’s assistant GM said yesterday night that specific players had not been discussed.

MetsBlog reports that the team seems high on lefty Dave Williams, or at least proud of themselves for getting him for nothing.

The Mets talked to the Rangers about closer Akinori Otsuka yesterday, a player they almost acquired from the Padres for Xavier Nady last year.

Lastly, the Tribe has been connected to Milledge in addition to the A’s and Nationals.  If talent like that is available, teams are going to call.