Mets should make a run at Ichiro

Jim Baumbach

12:07 PM EDT, July 30, 2008

The countdown to the trade deadline is almost at 24 hours, just enough time for Omar Minaya to pick up the phone, dial the Mariners' interim general manager and blow his mind away with these words.

"Forget about Ibanez. We want Ichiro."

Yes, interim GM Lee Pelekoudas will probably laugh, but his cackling might stop once Minaya mentions the names Fernando Martinez and Jon Neise.

Yes, give them both untouchables, the top two prospects in the Mets' system.

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And you know what? If throwing in Binghamton reliever Eddie Kunz seals the deal, I'd do that, too.

No doubt every Mets fan will disagree with me, and probably Pelekoudas wouldn't do that deal, either. Heck, this is the same guy that has been requesting talented prospects in return for Ibanez with the Mets and Jarrod Washburn with the Yankees, when those deals should scream salary dump.

But there's an enormous gap between a prospect and a major leaguer, and there's no telling that Martinez, Neise or Kunz is going to help the Mets ever, let alone this year. Ichiro, on the other hand, is very likely headed to the Hall of Fame. Imagine the Mets lineup with him and Jose Reyes at the top?

That's all this is, obviously, imagining. It's not going to happen because there is just too much risk involved for both clubs.

The Mariners risk alienating what's left of their fan base by trading the face of their organization for three unproven kids. And if the Mets did this deal, they would essentially be throwing a grenade in their already depleted minor-league system, blowing up the little that remains of their system right now.

But I'd still do this deal for the sole reason that Ichiro's presence at the top of the order combined with his stellar defense and arm in rightfield could be enough to put the Mets over the top in the National League.

Ichiro does have a limited no-trade clause, which could present a problem, but let's see him stand in the way of joining a team that could contend for a title before we worry about it.

One reason the Mariners might at least listen to this proposal is because Ichiro is in the first year of a five-year, $90-million contract and he turns 35 in October. This would jumpstart the Mariners' rebuilding plan, freeing up major money to spend on someone such as C.C. Sabathia while bolstering their farm system.

You might think that the biggest problem with this deal from the Mets' perspective obviously lies with their farm system. But keep in mind that the only way to rebuild a farm system is with good drafts each year, so their system is already at least two years from turning around, much like the Yankees' system was in 2005.

This deal would just be ripping the mask off their system, like a Band-Aid covering a fresh, bloody wound. No team likes to give away prospects, but at the same time you shouldn't value your prospects more than they are worth just because these are the only prospects of value that you own.

With Delgado and Pedro Martinez coming off the books after the season, taking on Ichiro's $17 million annual salary is doable. And, not that this should matter, but wouldn't the Mets love the promotional possibilities of a team nucleus of Ichiro, Reyes, Wright and Santana as they enter Citi Field?

This is most likely dreaming, yes. But it's worth a call.