Went out to dinner tonight with friends, and halfway through somebody asked me, "I have to ask you something." Before he got his question out I said, "I don't know if they are going to get Zito or not, but if they want him they can get him." Point being, if the Mets want to [...]

It's on. Mets VP Jeff Wilpon, GM Omar Minaya and executives Tony Bernanzard and John Ricco will fly to LA tomorrow to meet with Scott Boras and Barry Zito. They'll talk tomorrow, have dinner, then talk again Wednesday.

I would think if Zito were really interested, there would be a trip to NY to scout out [...]

To monitor the progress of the Mets new ballpark, go to StadiumPage.com.

GM Omar Minaya said he'll have a sit-down with agent Scott Boras and Barry Zito sometime this week. When? We could know that some time to day. Again, a meeting. Maybe a day or two. Perhaps an offer. Boras to use that offer vs. Texas. Maybe a counter.

Count me surprised if it gets done this [...]

The Mets are sure to meet with Barry Zito this week. Probably early. Even after they meet, I can't see a signing this week. The Mets might make an offer, but Scott Boras will play the teams against each other. As of now, the Mets, Texas and San Francisco have stated an interest. The Giants' [...]

Both Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph said getting Pedro Martinez back late in the second half would be like making a deal at the trade deadline. Make sense in theory, but only if you can guarantee a half-season of quality starts. Neither would.

The Mets aren't saying it, but they must look at Martinez as a [...]

Looks as if it will be a quiet day.

Team trying to set something up with Barry Zito before next week. This figures to drag into January. Zito visits sometime next week. He gets an offer. Scott Boras won't take it. He'll play the offer against Texas. Then maybe Zito visits San Francisco or Seattle. Don't [...]

Mets GM Omar Minaya placed third and the Yankees' Brian Cashman ranked fifth in an ESPN poll ranking the 30 general managers.

Here's the top 10:

1. Billy Beane, Oakland
2. John Schuerholz, Atlanta
3. Omar Minaya, Mets
4. Theo Epstein, Boston
5. Brian Cashman, Yankees
6. Kenny Williams, White Sox
7. Walt Jocketty, St. Louis
8. Dave Dombrowski, Detroit
9. Terry Ryan, Minnesota
10. Mark [...]

Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon said Barry Zito has the temperament to play in New York. Speaking on a conference call this morning, Damon said Zito: "I think he'd adjust well. He doesn't let much phase him."

Damon also described his former Oakland teammate as a big-game pitcher. "He knows how to pitch in the postseason," Damon [...]

Tell me. Is that a deer in the headlights look or what? By both player and agent.

Both Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph said today they like their pitching as is, that Barry Zito would be a nice addition? Do you believe them? If the season were to begin tomorrow, this is your rotation:

1. Tom Glavine: 40 plus, throws soft.
2. Orlando Hernandez: 40 plus, junkballer.
3. John Maine: little more than half a [...]

The numbers coming out of Boston on a Daisuke Matsuzaka's contract is $52 million over six years. The most important number there if you're thinking about relating this to Barry Zito is the six years.

The Mets don't want to go that long, prefering instead to go shorter with option years at the end, but Boras [...]

Mets GM Omar Minaya, speaking at the Mets annual holiday party, said the team is in it for Barry Zito if the deal "makes sense." Translation: It's all about the bucks.

The Rangers are the only team believed to have made an offer, and it's reportedly over $100 million. San Francisco and Seattle aren't really the [...]

Matt Cerrone, who operates the highly popular and comprehensive MetsBlog.com, had an interesting comment regarding Miguel Batista to Seattle for $24 million.

I do, Matt. I also remember the Mets taking a little heat for that [...]

The Mets opted not to tender Victor Zambrano a contract for next year, which I'm sure makes a lot of you happy. However, they'll keep negotiating with him.

The team did sign lefty Dave Williams to a one-year contract and tendered contracts to Endy Chavez, Duaner Sanchez, Ramon Castro and Oliver Perez. No surprises there.