The two top targets the Mets will likely be zeroing in on at the Winter Meetings starting today are Erik Bedard and Dan Haren.
According to industry sources of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles rejected a trade offer recently by the Mets for Erik Bedard which included 21-year-old outfield prospect Carlos Gomez, reliever Aaron Heilman, 29, and a third player, believed to be right-handed starter Philip Humber, 24.
However, Roger Rubin at the New York Daily News reports that the Mets offered Lastings Milledge at that time, not Carlos Gomez. Including Gomez or Ryan Church, along with Mike Pelfrey instead of Philip Humber might be seen as a more competitive offer.
The one thing the Mets do have going for them is that its unlikely the Orioles will want to trade Bedard within their division to the Yankees or Red Sox, if one or both of them were to lose out on Johan Santana.
The A’s would likely look for even more in return for Dan Haren because of his very attractive contract. Haren is signed through 2009 with a club option for 2010. He receives $4 million in 2008, $5.5 million in 2009, and his club option is $6.75
A more realistic option might be Joe Blanton along with signing either Carlos Silva or Livan Hernandez. Blanton had a 3.95 ERA last year with a 1.22 WHIP. He was 6th in Rookie Of The Year voting in 2005 when he had a 3.53 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.
