"I personally could not care less about having the team be a 78 win team as opposed to a 71 win team if I know it could make the Mets much, much better for the following 10 years"

100% agree.

I'm specifically referring to a team that needs another quality arm for a playoff push during this season.

The giants gave up Zach Wheeler (!!!) because they hoped Beltran would help them towards the playoffs.

Dickey is extremely valuable to one of these teams. More valuable than he is to the Mets, most likely.

If we can get the offensive version of Zach Wheeler, I don't know how we could say no.

You might not but you are not the one that has to pay the bills. It is a business and as such you have to have something that can draw enough people to at least break even. Giving up and trading all your chips in for prospects is not the way to keep a team afloat until they can retool with our farm and some free agents in the future.

The Red Sox seem to be looking at Swihart to be their future catcher, but the also have Lavarnway who is supposed to be pretty good. Also, in spite of all the current injuries, they are stocked with supposedly good outfeilders in the low minors. With Elsbury and Crawford still relatively young, we might be able to get them to add one of those guys for Dickey.

1. Absolutely. There's no way to assume that Dickey will pitch well into his 40s just because he's a knuckleballer. Not to mention the fact that he's only been a very good pitcher for a couple of years, and he's about 36 now.

2. I'm assuming you're referring to my statement about the Red Sox? I'm not making assumptions they would take anyone we want to get rid of. This is ludicrous. I just threw Boston out as an example because they may need pitching. But there will be plenty of teams that can use a solid arm. Just about every team.

The Red Sox don't have a catcher themselves right now so I don't see them trading off any prospects that could help them in that area.

I'm talking about guys that could help us 2 or 3 years down the road. none of these guys I mentioned are major legue ready yet.

Swihart is a long, long way off.

that is my point

" It is a business and as such you have to have something that can draw enough people to at least break even."

They had All Star Jose Reyes (in the thick of winning a batting title) for the whole season, and Beltran and K-Rod for 2/3 of the season, and lost $70 million last year. If they have another losing season and are out of the playoff hunt, they'll have big losses again even with Santana and Dickey (and Murphy) on the team. Better to look at the big picture and improve the team for the next 10 years instead of trying to put a few more bodies in the seats now with a losing team -- that's already been proven to be a failure.

this team is watchable right now.. if healthy... the problem with this team is pitching.. we need better pitching all around.. dickey and neise need to stay.. the others can all go.. Santana will not be an ace again in my opinion... pelfrey is so unproven... and gee although i do like him probably is not a ML level pitcher

1: Dickey will not yield an offensive version of zach wheeler so scratch that off
2: how do you EVER expect to build a winner if you dont keep any good players

"dickey and neise need to stay.."

Why, so we can "make sure" we win 78 games again next year?

A good strategist always thinks long term. That's what i trust the front office will do. Niese is 25 years old and locked up for a reasonable rate. He's not even in his prime yet. Dickey is into his late 30s, and could become over-valued to a desperate team.

How many people are honestly going out of their way to make it to the ballpark to see RA Dickey?

WHOA! No one said anything about trading Niese! He's staying. I'm talking about trading veteran arms -- Santana and Dickey -- that probably won't be part of the Mets picture for the long haul.

A contending team that needs a good lefty starter will give up AT LEAST 1 good prospect for Santana (Mets would have to pick up a chunk of his salary too). And what contending team wouldn't want a good lefty starter to help put them over the top -- even 1 with an innings limit, if they had a decent bullpen?

Dickey can help a team on the verge too. He's the only knuckler in the majors now. Teams know he can pitch a lot of innings and he's shown he can be very effective. Also, I've seen major leaguers say a knuckleballer messes up their swing for a couple of days AFTER they face him. That would be particularly effective in the playoffs. Some contender out there would be willing to give up some pretty good prospects to get that advantage.

As for Gee, the jury's still out on him as far as I'm concerned. I'd say keep him for another season or 2 and see what he turns out to be. The Mets have plenty of time to make an assessment on him -- it's not like they're really contenders at this point.

As for Pelfrey...well...if he does REALLY well this year, by all means trade him -- PLEASE!!

"1: Dickey will not yield an offensive version of zach wheeler so scratch that off"

Well, since you said it (whoever you are), it must be true. Well, i guess i can move on now. Thanks for clearing that up.

No one could have possibly imagined we would get a prospect of Wheeler's caliber last year, and they pulled it off. A team because desperate. The Giants felt they were desperate for a bat. And Beltran was an aging bat.

Dickey has been a stud for us. If a team needs that extra push, and feels that it could be their year, they may pull the trigger.

Oh wait, maybe not, since you said to scratch it off. Disregard what I just said, sir (or ma'am).

"2: how do you EVER expect to build a winner if you dont keep any good players"

Okay, when do you honestly think the Mets are ready to be a consistent winner? I say 2014 at the earliest. And that is fairly optimistic. Dickey turns 40 in 2014. 41 in 2015, etc etc. you get the picture. The ONLY good players I want to keep around are the ones that can not only help us win in 2014, but also at least through 2016 potentially. Dickey just doesn't fit the profile. Sooooooo, if we can get a future STAR that can potentially help us through 2022, you'd be stupid not to.

There is plenty of historical evidence to suggest knuckleballers do have more longevity that any other kind of pitcher. Reduced torque on the elbow and shoulder and reduced strain from not throwing as hard both contribute to knucklers being able to pitch into their 40s.

That is a fair point and worth noting but I still don't think that means we bank of Dickey being a rock solid part of the rotation into his early 40s, when this team will hopefully be ready to be a major player

Also, a contending team that trades for Dickey is primarily doing it to win NOW -- not in 2-4 years. Is it worth them giving up a good future prospect to have a better shot at a Championship in 2012? Most teams would say "Yes."

and all it takes is one

you are aware Dickey is not a conventional knuckleballer?

no one should assume anything with regards to health and longetivity..especially with atheletes...especially with this team.