I have argued exactly this all week. Sandy Alderson is too smart to not trade assets and settle for mediocrity during a rebuilding session. Lucky for us, we're stuck with these incompetent, inept doofuses as owners for the rest of our lives in all probability.

Look, the problem is, our owners care more for attendance (see Friday, Black, 2004), than putting together an actual, long term, competitive team. We lucked our way into some really good pitching prospects, and in true Mets fashion, tried our best to destroy one. Lets see how the other 2 fare.

Atta boy, Kev. There's the Met fan in you talkin!!

I can understand why they wouldn't want a repeat of last year's second half collapse. But to think keeping Hairston is going to prevent that is ludicrous. Hairston isn't even a guy we should necessarily bring back. As much as they are playing him, they'd be better off investing a bit more money and signing Cody Ross if possible.

It depends on what we could get back, but not trading him is the latest in the long line of stupidity from this pathetic franchise.

I think Sandy's reputation needs wins a lot more than Fred's.

Again, if there was any evidence of inspired, creative moves in the offseason when their hands have been so unfairly tied, I'd be more apt to believe Sandy has deals lined up and Jeff is nixing them.

But where are the moves otherwise to make us think this?

I think what we would get back wouldn't be much. I'd be very happy with Brian Morris from the Pirates for example, but I would probably do a trade even for Carlos Paulino (a very athletic under the radar catching prospect who I seem to like more than everyone else does).

I don't disagree that Sandy and co. should have been more creative in the off season, but trading Hairston has nothing to do with creativity. It's a no-brainer.

This reeks of the Wilpons.

What do you mean by inspired and creative? You have to give up something to get something (either money or talent). He couldn't give up much money, so are you suggesting he trade one of our prospects? What did you have in mind?

Cutting payroll reeks of the Wilpons.

Not cutting payroll reeks of Sandy.

I hate to be the voie of dissent here, and I'm certainly no Wilpon apologist...but I'm still not seeing trading Hairston as a move that puts us ocver the top in 2013 and beyond. He simply isn't going to bring back anyone of significance the way Carlos Beltran did bringing Wheeler here. The talking heads can piss and moan all they want to in order to get readers to read their drivel, but if there was a can't miss trade to make for Scott Hairston, Sandy would have done it. I think he's a bit smarter than the vast majority of people on the outside. I'd love to bring back a nice piece for Hairston. I just don't envision any pieces that teams are willing to give up for a fringe major league player.