It might even be for the best; trading Halladay might be great in the short-term, but even after you consider the cost of trading prospects to acquire him, the team then has to pay him, and he’s not going to want a penny less than what CC and Santana earned the previous two years. The only problem is, Roy Halladay is older than those guys, and has had a history of injuries in the past. Maybe he only takes a five year deal instead of six years, but that’s still a lot of money for a player who turns 33 next year. Are you ready to pay Roy Halladay $18 million a season until he turns 38? After trading away the team’s best prospects to get him? I’m not so sure I am.

That’s why I wouldn’t mind seeing some restraint this year. They need to start building a foundation, looking for some good, cheap players that are freely available and better than the Omir Santoses that have been trotted out the past few years. If they do go after free agents, go after younger guys, as they are less likely to turn into pumpkins. And keep the kids! They may not even be great, but this team could use a splash of good right now.

Cox, now to you. That’s a big “SHOULD” you wrote that two of those three players will be useful major league players in your response. Let’s be honest here, you just don’t know. You certainly hope that those players turn into respectable major league players but the vast majority do not. I agree that the Mets need to build up their farm system and concentrate on developing their young players but I also strongly believe that this team needs to prove itself to themselves and their fans after three failing years so why not pull the trigger on a major trade acquisition. Or why not do both? But when do you suggest they win? How long do you want to wait? 2014? Let’s not waste away the work they’ve already done by having prime talent like Wright (cheap contract), Reyes (cheaper contract), Beltran, Santana, and K-rod on this team. Thats how it appears to me. If they have 6 budding prospects in the minors, I am not against trading away for them for a sure-fire year after year Cy-Young candidate proven winner like Halladay. This team needs to do something. Jason Marquis and Chone Figgins aren’t gonna elevate this team next season to the playoffs. And essentially that’s something that all Mets fans want…their team playing in October which is something that they’ve done twice in the last 9 years and to me that’s just not good enough.

http://www.tedquarters.net/2009/11/16/the-problem-with-winning-now/.

Remember, even if they don’t turn into stars, at least two of the three of those players should turn into useful major league players, and for the money they make in their first six years on the team, that’s money saved to make another big free agent acquisition down the road. The Mets need to concentrate on developing young talent from within to augment outside help if this is ever going to be a team that truly builds a winning future. Trading for one year of Roy Halladay is a step backwards, whether they give him an extension or not.