5-Alarm Fughazi

Dan Graziano of the Star-Ledger offers today's round of trade deadline bunk. Like many other sportswriters, who need a new topic to meet deadline every couple of days, Dan's building up a crisis in his column so that he can sound the alarm. The upshot of his column? Since the Mets will make the playoffs this year, and probably the World Series, they need to trade for Barry Zito now, or the fate of the 2001 Mariners awaits them.

So, if what we're hearing is true -- if the Oakland A's really would trade Barry Zito to the Mets for Lastings Milledge -- the Mets should go ahead and do it.

Right now, what Mets GM Omar Minaya is saying is that the price teams are asking for "rental players" is too high. He can't mention specific players, but the hint is clear. Zito, who can be a free agent at the end of the season, is no guarantee to be a Met in 2007 even if they trade for him. To give up a system jewel such as Milledge for a pitcher you may have for only three months is tough...

"Tough" is the understatement of the year. What Dan wants Omar to do is give up a "system jewel" (his words), one who will likely start in LF next year at a bargain basement price, while all we get back is 3 months of Zito. Dan thinks the Mets need to make the deal because they have to win NOW. Meanwhile, all the sports columns you read back in April and May were about how Omar was wise to build a core of players that could compete at a high level well into the future. A core that was full of 20-somethings, like Wright, Reyes, Pelfrey, Beltran, Nady, and possibly Bannister and Maine. I guess those columns are good for May, but panic and alarmism are what the sportswriters need to get through July.

To throw Milledge aside, who has a chance to be one of the best members of that core, in return for one post-season of work from Zito (which may or may not end successfully, even with Zito), makes no sense whatsoever. Sign Zito in the offseason. There's no reason to think Delgado or LoDuca is falling off the map next year. If this year doesn't work out, come back next year with Milledge AND Zito.

I don't want to make it seem as though Dan's the only one with an itchy trigger finger. Just wait and see what happens come Sunday and Monday. The Post and News will be raising the alarm bells to deafening levels.