5 Headlines We Don't Want to See

Here are 5 headlines that Mets fans do not want to see this offseason:

Juan Gone a Met; Third Time is a Charm

243. That is the number of games Juan Gonzalez has averaged per season over the last three years. He has missed 62% of his games since 2001 and has chronic back problems that have to frighten any GM. Next season he will be 36-years-old and you have to wonder what he has left in the tank. Rumor has it that Juan (and his back) prefer warm, sunny weather. Mets fans have also not forgotten how Gonzalez has twice used the Mets to get better offers elsewhere.

Juan has spent all 16 years of his career playing in AL band boxes. Texas, Detriot, Cleveland, , Texas (again), and Kansas City. How would this crippled slugger fare in the cold NY weather in a park like Shea Stadium? If he can be brought in on the cheap as a 4th outfielder we'd be open to looking into it ... but under no other circumstances do we want to see Juan Gonzalez in orange and blue.

Mets Find Right Field Answer in Hidalgo

Okay, most of us like Richard Hidalgo. He comes to the park every day, ready to play. When he's hot, he's red hot. He hits the long ball the way Darryl Strawberry used to, and we miss that from time to time. He's sound defensively and has a bazooka for an arm. Despite all of this, we're afraid of Richard.

Just when you think you can count on Hidalgo, he completely vanishes and starts appearing on the back of milk cartons. Hidalgo hit 25 homeruns last year (10 of them in July), but he only batted a paltry .239 over the season, which included a .197 batting average after the all-star break. In the final month of the season, with a contract on the line, Hidalgo had only 9 hits and 23 strikeouts. Hidalgo makes Mike Piazza's cold streaks look blazing hot. If Richard returns to Shea, it can only be as a 4th outfielder.

Jaramillo New Yankees Hitting Coach

Word on the street is that the Yankees are also interested in Rudy Jaramillo. For some reason the club has asked Mattingly to take a pay cut. In addition, Mattingly has been concerned about a lack of time with his family and may decide not to come back. It stands to reason that the team with the deepest pockets covets the respected hitting instructor.

The Mets are in need of a hitting coach badly and Jaramillo has a reputation that will actually lure free agents to the club. If the bilingual Jaramillo is available, he needs to be in a Mets uniform next year, not pinstripes. Hopefully his relationship with Minaya helps in these matters.

Soriano Back in New York

We've heard the rumors and grumblings about the Mets considering the prospect of trading Jose Reyes (for Alfonzo Soriano) and we don't like what we hear. Met fans would prefer to give a 20-year-old prospect more than 300 at-bats to establish himself.

Met fans have not yet forgiven management for sending Scott Kazmir to Tampa Bay in exchange for the injured Victor Zambrano. If the Mets are planning to add Jose Reyes to the list of recently deported, he has to net a bonified superstar in return. Alfonzo Soriano has far too many holes in his game: Mediocre hitting skills (despite playing in hitter's parks), awful defense, no plate discipline, attitude issues, salary and age.

Sammy Sosa Reunited with Minaya

No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!

We just don't care how much salary Chicago may be willing to eat, there is no way we want to see a guy like Sammy Sosa in a Mets uniform. He's got serious emotional issues, terrible plate discipline, deteriorating power numbers and a history of cheating (corked bat, steroids), not to mention a poor glove. He's enough of a clubhouse cancer that the Cubs don't even want their own potential Hall of Famer to retire a Cub.

I don't care if Sammy is planning to marry into Minaya's family, he's unwanted here and we have no use for him. He is exactly the opposite of what the Mets need: Youth, speed, hitting, defense and the ability to get on-base. There is no Met contract the Cubs could take that would make Sosa and his $40 Million 2-year contract worthwhile.

Honorable Mentions:

"Tino Returns to New York"
"Mets Lock up Magglio Long-Term"
"Wilpon Nixes Beltran Deal"