You’re not wrong, but that’s not a particularly good example. The Mets put together a really excellent bullpen in 2006, in no small part because of the Wagner signing; the bullpen carried them to the NLCS in spite of an old, injury-ravaged starting rotation.

The real reason the Mets are in such a bind now is Minaya’s handling of the 2006-07 offseason, when he traded away several young relief arms (Henry Owens, Heath Bell, Royce Ring, and Matt Lindstrom) for talent that never panned out, decimating the team’s bullpen depth in 07 and 08.

Craig, those of us Cub fans who remember Mel Rojas certainly agree with your sentiment.  Especially as K-Rod may not even be the best closer available (klaw sez that Kerry Wood has better stuff, and it’s not all that close).

Now you’re just playing with my emotions. I don’t know I’ll ever be able to trust you again.

I posted this on Braves Journal, but…  You can always predict how the Mets’ thought processes will work.  They will weigh all options, then do whatever is most expensive.

i’m surprised by this deal.  it’s obviously expensive, but to get him for three years instead of the allegedly wanted 4 or 5.  the Mets played that one well by waiting it out and getting their man and a relatively do-able cost.