If the Mets can improve their team by dealing Reyes, do you think Omar should pull the trigger? (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY DANIEL SIEGEL
STACHE WRITER

A new season, a new stadium, a renewed sense of optimism. What a difference four months make. With the trade deadline approaching, many people question whether the Mets will be buyers or sellers. Yet, with a DL list that commands most of their starting lineup and star power plus a lack of blue chip prospects, how much can the Mets truly do?

While it has been brought up from time to time and arguments have ensued as far as who would you move, the truth of the matter is its time for Omar to blow this team up. This will be yet another year where the Mets have a high payroll and nothing to show for it. While injuries have been a factor in this outcome, its the personnel that truly lead to this decision.

Jose Reyes is a spark plug, there is no questioning that. But with a injury plagued past and his constant brain freezes, one has to wonder if we have seen the best of what Reyes has to offer. Now I know, the numbers with and without him in the lineup are very much in favor of keeping him, but is he really a winner?

Think of our two most bitter rivals, would you really keep Reyes over Jeter or Rollins? They both have rings and the intangibles that come with winning baseball that Jose at times seems to have forgotten or just lack. Not to mention, does anyone really believe that Jose has been hurt this badly for this long? I mean, the guy was in the dugout a week after going on the DL jumping up and down with a smile on his face.

He may not be 100% but there comes a time where you have to get back on the field and help your team and that time has long passed.

Carlos Beltran is another one of the core guys I would consider dealing although I’d be more cautious with him than I would be with Reyes. While there is no arguing what Beltran brings to the table and that he is arguably the best center-fielder is baseball, I wonder about his passion as well. While the true state of his injury may not be known to any of us, I’m under the impression that he has a deep bruise.

If that truly is the case, how is he not even throwing a baseball let alone back on the field by now? Carlos Delgado had hip surgery and he’s looking as if he will be back on the field before both these guys.

Now don’t misunderstand me, I’m not talking about giving these guys away but I think now is the time to really look toward the future and shaking things up. The offense may need a major overhaul but the pitching isn’t set in stone either.

Whose to know if the Blue Jays will really deal Roy Halladay in the next couple of weeks. Maybe they will ride him out until the offseason. But, we do know that even with Pedro Martinez in the fold (he will come back to haunt us), the Phillies are pursuing Halladay which if they get him, has the Phillies set for 2010 and beyond if they can resign him.

I don’t know what the Blue Jays would ask from Omar but I find it hard to believe that a conversation started with Reyes, Bobby Parnell and Fernando Martinez wouldn’t at least get the ball rolling. Listen, I understand that Halladay is a long shot that probably isn’t going to happen and even if it did it doesn’t solve all the Mets problems. But, when one of the best pitchers in baseball is on the market you have to give it a shot.

Plus, going into next year, the Mets right now have a starting rotation of Johan, Oliver Perez, and Mike Pelfrey. Roy Halladay wouldn’t be so bad to throw in that fold.

Omar can’t sit on his hands anymore and use all the excuses he can muster up as his answers. Reyes and Beltran are big time players that can bring back big rewards if stubborn enough and their injuries shouldn’t scare away potential suitors. Other guys Omar could deal, such as Delgado and Wagner, will come back after the deadline and trying to pull off a significant deal with a big return though waivers is highly unlikely.

The inaugural season of Citi Field will end much like the final year of Shea Stadium, no playoffs, a lot of disappointment. The difference this time is the heartbreak isn’t so bad this time because we’ve had nothing to cling to for the past month or so. The fans need something to grab hold to, something to renew their optimism.

The fact that players will return from the DL doesn’t do that anymore thanks to the sense of a lost season and the memories of those players in the field for heartbreaking defeats. We need new blood, new life, something to give us hope for a better tomorrow.

Maybe we could all just use a Halladay.