With the inspiration of Deadspin editor AJ Daulerio, apparently a Tampa Bay Rays fan has started a petition to get former Mets and Rays pitcher Victor Zambrano to throw out the first pitch of their first playoff game in franchise history. They intend to send the petition to the Rays president, Matt Silverman.

Most Mets fans know the story. Zambrano was traded to the Mets in the deal that sent stud pitching prospect Scott Kazmir to the Rays. Kazmir went on to be an instrumental part to the turnaround of the Rays franchise, while Zambrano is rocking the minor league benches. Here is how it all came about…

They now face a strange predicament: Who to throw out the first pitch of their first ever playoff game? Rays president Matt Silverman said, “MLB asked us who it’d be. We realized nobody in the history of the franchise had done anything to be worthy of the honor.” Well, the goal of this here petition is for the Rays to have Mr. Zambrano himself throw out the first pitch. Is there a better choice? If one person can be given credit for the Rays’ turn of fate, why not Zambrano? Sign this petition if you’re a Rays fan, a baseball fan or if you just love irony (or hate the Mets.)

Yeah, that’s a low blow.

With the signings of Billy Wagner and Moises Alou, the Mets have not had first-round picks in the past two years. Coupled with the various trades Omar Minaya has executed over the last two years, most notably the Johan Santana deal, the Mets’ farm system is depleted. Armed with three picks within the first 33 choices, the Mets have a great opportunity to help restock the system at Thursday’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

It might serve interesting to take a look at the first-round picks the Mets have had since 2000 and the varying degrees of success and failure the related moves have brought to the organization.

With the 16th pick in the 2000 draft, the Mets selected LHP Billy Traber. An article for the New York Times reported the Mets were going to offer Traber $1.7 million, but after seeing M.R.I. results on his elbow, Traber accepted the Mets’ new offer of $400,000. I would guess that is why he was so quickly dealt to the Cleveland Indians in the Roberto Alomar trade.

He did well for the Indians in 2002 and 2003 before having Tommy John surgery. He was out of baseball for the entirety two years before landing with the Washington Nationals in 2006, which is probably where Mets fans remember seeing him again. He got a chance to make both the Nationals’ rotation and bullpen but ultimately failed in both attempts. He was acquired by the Yankees for the 2008 season, where he began in the bullpen but quickly lost his job once again.

Obviously, looking back, Traber did not turn into the No. 3 starter the Mets thought he would become. He was a bust for both the Mets organization and every organization that has picked him up since. Ultimately, he just hasn’t been able to recover from the lingering arm problems.

Thinking back on the 2001 draft is much more fun because both players the Mets bagged in the first round of that draft are still on the team. After an early attempt at starting with mixed results, highlighted by a 1-hit shutout against the Marlins in 2005, Aaron Heilman has served as the Mets’ off-again, on-again set-up man. Heilman’s relationship with both the Mets fans and the set-up role is notoriously love-hate. Heilman is basically the Diane Chambers (from Cheers) of the New York Mets.

But all things considered, picking Heilman has worked out. He has definitely contributed to the major league club on more than one occasion, particularly down the stretch. The Mets didn’t really need to trade for a Roberto Hernandez at the trade deadline in 2006 because Heilman admirably stepped to the plate in the absence of Sanchez. Has he done well in 2008? No. Will he do all that well in the future? Still up for debate.

The other pick in 2001 was David Wright, a Gold Glove, MVP-caliber player. No real arguments needed.

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The AP is reporting that the Rays and LHP Scott Kazmir have agreed to a deal that pays him $28.5 million over the next three years, and a club option that could raise that total value to $39.5 million over four years.

The Mets traded Kazmir before the trade deadline in 2004 for Victor Zambrano. Last year, Kazmir was 13-9 with a 3.48 ERA and 239 K’s.

SI.com is reporting that Rays P Scott Kazmir will miss two weeks of time with an elbow strain. They had feared Kazmir had ligament damage and would need major surgery.

Kazmir has turned out to be the real deal, but he’s always had a funny elbow.. something to keep your eye on..

According to the AP, former Mets prospect and current Devil Rays Ace Scott Kazmir is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his arm after he felt discomfort in his arm after throwing.

I get a disappointed feeling in my gut when I hear his name and the trade, but I’ve gotten beyond the anguish it once caused.  I wish all the best to him, and hope its nothing serious.

Bugs and Cranks lists five deals that the Mets could, and should, make.

The first deal suggested is Fernando Martinez, John Maine and Jason Vargas to Oakland for Dan Haren.

While I think the Mets have a much better shot at getting Santana than Haren, and would get a better deal because Haren is signed to a very affordable contract through 2009, with a club option for 2010, I don’t know that the Mets need to give up Maine to get him. Perhaps the fact that Haren’s deal is so good that the A’s will require a bit more in return.

Haren was 15-9 with a 3.07 ERA in 222 2/3 IP last season. Santana went 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA in 219 IP.

The second deal suggested is Johnny Estrada, Joe Smith, Aaron Heilman and Kevin Mulvey to Baltimore for Ramon Hernandez and Erik Bedard

I would only make this deal unless the Mets made the next deal that is suggested, which is getting Octavio Dotel and Shawn Chacon. I would be perfectly happy if Mulvey was able to put up the numbers Bedard has, but you need to plug in the two gaping holes this deal leaves in your bullpen. Ramon Hernandez is also a very nice upgrade over Estrada.

The next deal is to sign Mike Cameron and Tony Clark.

I don’t see this realistically happening. I think Clark would be a nice addition to our bench, and would fit in nicely as a backup for Delgado at first base, but I don’t think you can reasonably have Cameron as another outfielder on this team, it simply does not fit. The right field position should belong to Lastings Milledge next year. Not to mention Cameron is set to serve a drug suspension that will have him missing time to begin with. Pass.

The last and least likely deal suggested is Lastings Milledge, Mike Pelfrey, B-level prospect and high draft pick for Scott Kazmir.

Dream on, Mets fans. Never gonna happen. Our best shot at ever getting Kazmir back is via free agency, when he’s way too expensive for the Rays to hold onto. The Mets will then have to prove they’re able to go head to head with the Yankees when he becomes available in 2010.

The Devil Rays might look to trade him to get something in return, but I don’t see that happening until he’s a year away at the most. He’s too valuable to them now, and it doesn’t make sense moving him yet, unless they’re absolutely blown away by what someone is offering in a trade. This deal probrobly wouldn’t even come close to getting it done.

I have to admit, I laugh at 99% of the deal people call into WFAN with, they always come up with deals that benefit the Mets and do nothing for the other team. The Haren deal in my opinion is the one the A’s are most likely to accept, and the best offer they’ve come up with here, in my opinion. I’m just not sure the Mets would be willing to deal Maine.

Buster Olney on ESPN writes that the Mets need a reliable innings eater this season that can consistantly take games into the seventh or even the eight inning, however it will be extremely difficult to land one.

Olney thinks Carlos Silva is the best pitcher available on the free agent market, but will command a deal worth about $40 million.

Big names like Johan Santana, Scott Kazmir, and Roy Oswalt are available via trade but the Mets don’t have quite the level of prospects that teams would be seeking in return. Baseball executives are mixed on their evaluation of Lastings Milledge, and while many are high on Carlos Gomez, the Mets seem reluctant to offer him in any deal. Mike Pelfrey and Phillip Humber are viewed as 4th or 5th starters or relievers. Aaron Heilman would be someone Olney considers a valuable trade chip, but the Mets are coming off a season where their bullpen seems to require an upgrade. Olney believes a deal to acquire Joe Blanton is most likely.

Olney also predicts that the Mets will offer Jorge Posada a four year deal, which depending on how much the Yankees are willing to spend to retain Posada, could bring the 35 year old catcher to Queens.