Mets Merized Online - A New York Mets Blog With Attitude!

I get it. The Winter Meetings are right around the corner, and the hot stove is heating up. But, if I read another Johan Santana-to-the-Mets rumor I'm going to go crazy.

In recent days, I've read a bunch of stories relating to the Twins' starter with little-to-no-evidence that a trade will actually happen, or that it would involve the Mets. One paper says it'll take at least Reyes while another site speculates it'd take Milledge, Pelfrey, Joe Smith and Humber. The truth is out there, as they say, but it's not in any of these media outlets.

My gut tells me that when all is said and done, Johan will be traded in July to the Yankees or the Red Sox. I hate to think that way, but it's always inevitable when a player is demanding an astronomical amount of money and years, the Yankees will make it happen. I love how Yankee fans are so opposed to trading Joba Chamberlain for Johan? Why? Because they bought "In Joba We Trust" T-shirts? I don't get it. Prospects are such a crap-shoot.

I just re-read an old Beckett magazine I had that lists Jason Vargas, now on the Mets, as a "top prospect." Um, show of hands who still think that to be true. I guess my point this week is I'd like some meat to these stories. I love how Omar always works the phones and lets no one on the press know it. But, for once, I'd love to read more than hypotheticals. Maybe present a realistic rumor? Maybe weigh the stats, and speculate on trades that actually might happen?

I've read so many stories around rumors that are actually being started by the writers themselves - no executives quoted or anything.  Here's one from me: Aaron Heilman, Carlos Gomez, and Joe Smith for Dan Haren of the A's. See if that actually happens next week. I doubt it.

What will happen? Mets will sign the overweight once-great underachiever Bartolo Colon. That's what history tells us will happen. Let's hope not.