This semi-hypothetical situation is a mere reflection on the Mets doing their best in a thin free agent and trade market. Minaya did have an offseason checklist that was quite long and scratching a corner outfielder off of it is a positive, but did he get the right player for the team without overpaying?

The general manager brought Jason Bay to Flushing at anything but a discount and although he is a talented player, is he the cleanup-type that they were so desperately looking for? At 31, Bay still has many quality years ahead of him and should be productive for the length of the deal, but he will be making superstar money and has yet to shown that he can carry a team.

The four-year, $66-million contract both sides agreed to (pending a physical) has to make one think why it has taken nearly three weeks to hammer it out when there were clearly no other serious suitors for Bay, another glaring point in itself. The Boston Red Sox wanted to retain him and made a generous offer for the same length but $6 million less. Bay chose to test the waters out there on the open market and did not find as many takers as he may have expected.

Other than the Mets, there were no other teams making more than brief inquiries of Bay. Maybe Minaya did not bid against himself, but he is on the hook for $16.25 million a year for a player who strikes out frequently and will not make folks forget Kevin McReynolds in left field any time soon.

Bay was actually a Met farmhand at one time before being traded to the San Diego Padres in a two-for-one deal, with the main player changing addresses being righthanded reliever Steve Reeves. He then made his way to Pittsburgh and won the 2004 National League Rookie of the Year award. Playing in virtual obscurity for a team spinning its wheels, the Canadian-born outfielder was a steady hitter who played in 162, 159 and 145 games the next three seasons. He also hit 30 home runs and drove in at least 100 base runners in two of those campaigns.

In 2008, Bay was part of the three-way trade that shipped Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers and had his highest numbers as far as productivity (36 home runs, 119 RBI) last summer in his walk year. He also had his worst season as far as striking out goes with 162 Ks and his batting average (.267) was the second lowest of his career.

For a team that was lead in home runs by Jeff Francouer with 12, even the mention of someone who can hit 30 long balls is good news. But Bay is probably geared more for what he was in Boston, which was a role player with a lot of talent around him. Maybe he had to carry the load in Pittsburgh, but there was not much pressure there and championships were the furthest expectation at PNC Park. That is not the case at Citi Field.

Minaya is on the hot seat and must have felt that he needed to do something so he can say he filled a need with what was available. You can easily make the argument that the organization would have been better off waiting for a player who filled more holes if they were going to spend a large sum of money.

But that would have been a cold act at this time of year. Bah-humbug.

But this year is different, with so many holes to fill, so the Mets, the field is wide open for the Amazin’s in Indianapolis, just like the race the city entertains every Memorial Day Weekend.

The Mets have a lot of holes to fill, after a 92-loss season. So this year, much maligned GM Omar Minaya has a handful to fill holes in left field, catcher, the rotation, and the bullpen.

So it stands to reason that the rumors were flying yesterday with a Philadelphia website reporting the Mets acquired former nemesis Pay Burrell for Luis Castillo and Detroit pitcher Edwin Jackson also coming to Queens for an unidentified player. Neither was true.

What we do know is that the Mets are trying to make a trade or two in Indy, forcing their way to improve the team even with a meager $25 million to spend on free agents.

“I don’t want to say I’m that close,” Minaya said to reporters in Indianapolis. “But closer than we were. I’m getting either an idea that we’re going to get it done or not get it done. Put it this way – I’m further along today than I was [Sunday] night.”

It looks like he is trying to trade Castillo, especially with the team looking at free agent second baseman Adam Kennedy. And this morning the NY Post is reporting Minaya is talking to Milwaukee about a John Maine for Corey Hart swap. (And no, Minaya was not seen wearing his sunglasses at night.)

Yet, that’s the insanity of the Winter Meetings, especially this season with the direct line to the event through programs like Twitter. In the past when a reporter would get a rumor, he or she would have some time to research it, but now once said it’s just a few taps on the Blackberry away from becoming public.

So expect the rumors to fly over the next three days, as the Mets desperately try to fill in their holes. With the Mets shopping Castillo, every bad contract out there will be rumored coming to New York, even if the fit isn’t there, while Minaya looks for bargains to fill his holes.

Oh, he will kick the tires on free agents as well. If the price is right for Bengie Molina, then he will be signed – look for a Castillo like 2-year, $12 million contract there – and of course, Minaya will look at John Lackey, although he may be out of the team’s price range.

Yet, Lackey’s price may come down and if a few smart trades do occur, then Minaya may have the money for a high price ticket like the Angels erstwhile ace. And if that happens, then the Mets may be able to salvage a very bumpy 2009.

One thing is for certain though – at these Winter Meetings, the race has just started.

If they can nab the 31 year-old, it would be a real step in the right direction for the Mets. Yet, there’s still a lot of work to do before Figgins hoists his No. 9 jersey at Citi Field.

First they have to figure out where he would play. A third baseman last season, that position is secured by David Wright, so the Mets would have to move Figgins to either second base or left field. Although a huge hole is open in left, the team would prefer to have the free agent play second base, where he would be continue his one-two punch with Jose Reyes out in the field.

Of course, Luis Castillo is still on the team with two years and about $12 million coming to him, so general manager Omar Minaya is shopping his incumbent to open the door for a new, more multi-dimensional player. Already there have been rumors about Chris Snyder and Lyle Overbay, so the feeling is something will happen with the Mets much maligned second baseman.

Yet, more is needed than just Figgins. The Mets also will kick the tires for Matt Holliday and inquire about ace Roy Halladay, but something tells me that the organization will come up short there.

Although COO Jeff Wilpon told fans in a letter and the press a day after the season, the Mets will have a similar payroll as last season, it also means the club will need to make some tough decisions when it comes to filling positions. Make no mistake, the club won’t have a Yankee-like payroll of $200 million, rather, it will come in between $145 – $150 million, so there will be some limitations here.

All of that means the Mets will have between $25 – $30 million to play with coming into this offseason with the expiring contracts coming off the books, and factoring in pay raises for next season. Figgins will cost between $8 – $10 million so right off the bat, you are down to $22 million for a couple of bats and a starter.

If they can dump Castillo, they will probably have to take a similar contract back, which means that will be somewhat of a wash. Yet if it fills a hole, like catcher with Snyder or first base with Overbay, it will mean more money to spend elsewhere.

It also means the high priced free agents will be too rich for the Mets if they get Figgins. Scott Boras wants $18 million a season for Holliday and if they Mets could pull off the trade for Halladay, he will command a Johan Santana kind of contract of $22 million a season.

If Holliday’s price comes down to say between $12-$15 million per season, then the Mets would be able to afford the former Rockies outfielder. It will also allow the club to start the season with Omir Santos behind the plate if Castillo can’t fetch a catcher like Snyder.  It will also allow the team to use Daniel Murphy at first with Ike Davis waiting in the wings down in Buffalo.

The bottom line is this though…the Mets will only have about $15 million to spend on a big bopper in the lineup if they add Figgins.

Then the Mets will have about $7 – $10 million to get another starter, like Jason Marquis or Randy Wolf, and fill in the bullpen.

All of this sounds nice in November and will mean nothing if Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana, and David Wright are not healthy next season. But it is a plan and a start, which is all a Met fan can hope for right now.

And a lot has changed. Shea Stadium is now gone and the Mets welcomed in Citi Field by playing like the teams that opened the Polo Grounds and the 1964 version of their erstwhile ballpark.

But 1969 will always be there and the memories will always remain. As will those of the 1969 Jets and 1969-70 Knicks, both of which won their respective championships, as well.

Over the years, plenty of books have been published on each team, especially the Mets, and they all pretty much tell the same story. But Art Shamsky’s The Magnificent Seasons towers above other historical accounts, not only because it’s by a participant, but also because it covers all three teams during that period.

Starting with the Jets, Shamsky – who played right field for the Mets in 1969 and then later worked as a sports television reporter for 10 years on WNEW Channel 5 – goes from the early days of the club to the magical 1969 season. He interviews all the major players on each club to paint the word picture accurately.

Although the Mets are heavily covered, the Jets and Knicks sections are very interesting in their own right, because of the lack of coverage those teams received over the years compared to the Miracle Mets. As someone who was born right after the 69 championships happened, the book provides a excellent reference for a person who didn’t live through the era.

Shamsky doesn’t just interview the players, he also speaks with various famous fans, including Ray Romano, since Shamsky has a relationship with the television star from his time on Everyone Loves Raymond.

Because he was a player, Shamsky is able to get the reader into the clubhouse and delve into areas only a former athlete would know. Yet, he was a journalist as well and due to this, the work is researched very accurately and presented in an intelligent way.

That’s why The Magnificent Seasons works so well. First published back in 2005, the book is still very timely and a good read for not just fans of those three teams, but everyone who is interested in New York sports.

Visit ArtShamsky.com to order your autographed copy.

Although Parnell says it’s “over thinking” there may be more to it. This is a young pitcher, the Mets are very high on and when he sits around all week, the pressure mounts.

“It’s something I have to do with myself,” Parnell said. “I need to go out there and have some fun. Over the past few weeks, the game hasn’t been fun for me.”

Tonight, though, Parnell had fun with the Cubs, as he was able to pitch out of jams, while maintaining a very fragile 1-0 lead thanks to Corey Sullivan’s second inning homer. He was getting his breaking pitches over, while able to spot his 97 m.p.h. Fastball. That’s what he needs to be successful.

Hopefully, this is the start of something big for Parnell, who really has struggled over the past month. Right now, the Mets are in a situation where they can evaluate their players. Next season, they probably will need two starters if John Maine, who could be looking at $4 million to $5 million in arbitration is non-tendered. That means, Parnell may be right in line for a spot.

Also, as we saw this season, pitching is fragile, and there’s always going to be room for a starter. If Parnell can make it through these final weeks not looking like a batting practice pitcher, then we might have something here, otherwise, he may pitch his way out of the Mets plans.

With today’s post-Madoff Mets, there’s probably going to be room for a rookie in the rotation next year. Besides Parnell, they Mets will also look at Jon Niese, who is coming back from his hamstring injury, and Brad Holt will also get a long look in Spring Training. But it’s probably unlikely the team will carry two rookies on the staff as they will probably try to either sign or trade for a veteran presence to go with Johan Santana.

So Parnell has some work to do. These next four or five starts of his could be the key for him to secure a spot in 2010. If the young righthander, who says he prefers starting, doesn’t come through, it might mean back to the bullpen or worse – a trip to Buffalo.

First he has his next start – probably on Thursday against the Marlins. There Parnell can prove he can pitch to end a homestand, not just to open one.

This isn’t just a sprint of teams trying to make the final eight.  It’s also a sprint of September call-ups, injured (former) stars and desperate role players all jockeying for a spot on the 2010 roster.  Whose roster?  It really doesn’t matter.  To be on a Major League team is Goal #1.  To have a say in which team?  Like the commercial says: Priceless.

Think of a guy like Carlos Delgado of the Mets.  His contract runs out on October 3rd.  Rather than receive an extension, he’ll be looking for work.  A hip injury put him on the DL in May, and just as he was about to come back to the field, an oblique injury put a stop to that.  A guy like Delgado needs a couple weeks to prove he’s worth an investment by some team for 2010.  Barring recovery in the next 30-ish days, he might be one of those guys you read about in January, trying out for scouts on some back Puerto Rican ballfield.

Lefty Ron Mahay of the Twins has been healthy this year.  The problem is he hasn’t been great, or at least that’s what his statistics say.  Ineffective in Kansas City, he was designated for assignment and released, going from a last place, underperforming Royals team, to an AL Central contender.  Ron’s performance during the next month will either raise his value to another multi-year, multi-million dollar contract or a floater getting picked up just as camps begin in February.

Then there’s a guy like Paul Byrd, who took the majority of 2009 off because, well, he wanted to.  When he decided he did want to come back, the Red Sox signed him.  His first start was six innings of shutout ball.  What’s September mean to him?  It means a Wild Card October and one more shot at a World Series he’s never reached after 3 Championship Series appearances.  But even more than that, Paul Byrd’s September is one more opportunity to see if he wants to play next year or follow through on his most-of-2009 sit -out and retire for good.

There are more stories like these, many of players only the hardcore or fantasy baseball fans know about.  But they’re out there, taking early BP, watching extra video, or doing some extra pre-game warning track wind sprints.  Because the season’s winding down and there’s no time left for marathon training.  Just playing hard and making the most of these last 30 days.

Jimmy Scott is probably the greatest pitcher you’ve never heard of.  Visit Jimmy Scott’s High & Tight to read more from Jimmy and guests Desi Relaford, Eric Valent & Cassidy Dover.  You’ll also hear a new interview every Monday morning with former MLB players, agents, wives and others; giving new outlooks on this great game we call Baseball.  Go there now to hear Jimmy’s latest interviews with Rollie Fingers, Desi Relaford, Brent Mayne and MLB Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.  You can follow Jimmy on Twitter or Facebook

The Mets only choice is to pull him back, keeping Wagner for the rest of the season.

First reported by FoxSports.com, Wagner’s agent Bean Stringfellow informed the Red Sox of his client’s decision this morning. The lefty reliever said he would waive his no-trade for the right team. Apparently the Red Sox weren’t it.

If he went to Boston, Wagner would have setup closer Jonathan Papelbon, a situation which the 38 year-old didn’t want to do long term. So he put demands on the Sox, including not to pick up his $8 million option and not offering him arbitration, meaning there would be no compensation to the Sox when the lefty walked as a free agent.

So now he will stay in New York for the rest of the year, meaning the Mets would be responsible for the roughly $2.7 million left on his contract. The team will most likely decline the $ 8 million option, giving Wagner a $1 million buyout, but it will probably offer the reliever arbitration, netting two draft pick when he signs elsewhere next year.

The other option of just assigning Wagner’s contract to the Red Sox was out of the question, because that is also covered in the no-trade.

Keeping Wagner will mean the Mets will potentially have three closers for the rest of the season. Francisco Rodriguez is entrenched as the closer and is going nowhere, while J.J. Putz is scheduled to begin his rehab assignment in Brooklyn tonight and could rejoin the Mets within a week.

Yet, Shea had to move on in the name of progress. Although, not much to look at, the big blue bowl had to move into memory for the sake of wider concourses, club seats and the Shake Shack.

And the Mets seemed to have suffered for it. As Citi Field arose over the outfield fence, its primary tenant couldn’t get out of its own way, tossing away the 2007 and 2008 seasons on the last day of each season. Could it have been a sign?

More and more you have to wonder, as 2009 is quickly becoming the worst year in the history of the franchise. How can that be, you might say? The Mets have a history of bad clubs. From the 1962 Amazin’ Mets, to the Dr Roulet clubs of the late 1970s, and the “Worst Teams Money Could Buy” in the early 1990s, there have been some stinkers out there.

Yet, this year takes the cake. As the Mets – and the city – proceeded to wipe Shea off the map, the Wilpons were almost bankrupted by Bernie Madoff and Citi Field’s name sponsor had to be bailed out by the government.

Then Citi Field opened it’s doors, filled with obstructed views and devoid of Met history. It took the club four months to realize fans wanted to see memorabilia and the game on the field, and changes were made last week.

It’s probably too little too late, because the season isn’t just a lost cause, but an Edgar Allen Poe horror story. It took only a few weeks into 209 for the Red Death to visit the Met clubhouse and one by one they fell. Seven of the eight in the opening day lineup missed time due to injury. It got so bad that even the replacements started to go down, right down to Jeff Francoeur, who hurt his thumb on Sunday.

As for the starters, John Maine, Oliver Perez, and now Johan Santana have been hurt this season. Livan Hernandez was so bad he was released, and Mike Pelfrey took a huge step back. And much like the lineup, the fill-ins spent time on the DL as well with Fernando Nieve and Tim Redding on the shelf during various parts of the season.

The only thing missing is a ticking ebony clock in the Mets clubhouse which will stop when there are no more players left. With the way things are going, that will probably be next week.

And let’s not forget Omar Minaya, who went from baseball’s darling to almost not having a job after he put his foot in his mouth last month by slandering Daily News reporter Adam Rubin. This year has not been bad, but an embarrassment from top to bottom.

Is all of this bad luck? Maybe. Bad judgment? Perhaps. Yet, maybe the Mets angered some sort of baseball god by wiping Shea Stadium off the map. At least the Yankees had the good sense to keep their old ballpark standing as the Bombers adjusted to their new edifice.

Speaking of the Yankees, they were last team to celebrate a championship on Shea’s field. That type of sacrilege caused them to have a really bad decade. They lost the next World Series on the final pitch, allowed the Red Sox to break their curse and had a boat load of first round defeats. And now, with no more Shea, they are cruising to No. 27.

Maybe there’s nothing to this. But there’s no denying bad karma has hit the Mets hard this year. And all of this started to happen after the team demolished the field of two miracles.

Is it just a coincidence? Maybe or maybe not.