When did I ever say potentially not spending in the offseason wasn't a negative? I noted that it wouldn't be as horrendous as the 50M drop last offseason, while noting that they have tons of money coming off the books after next year...and also pointing out that the source Rubin is using isn't part of the Mets organization.

TimBogar,
Fair enough. I'm just saying until proven otherwise I take Adam Rubin's stories to have validity. If there is a shift I assume Adam will report as such. If suddenly they spend significantly more than that without Adam reporting this shift then we can look back and say Adam was wrong.

I feel the same way.

However, this thread has mostly been about dissecting the quote that the Mets would have 15 mil to spend this offseason.

No time has been spent on the other quote - stating that they could allocate a chunk of that money to re-signing Wright and Dickey. And I'll repeat the fact that if the Mets had no intention of making a play to re-sign those guys over the winter, I'd be far more concerned about the future of the team.

Add one legitimate of and 2qualityrelievers and the could pull out 82/83 wins

The problem is... what the Mets feel is a fair deal for Wright may be NOWHERE near what Wright thinks is fair. The Mets may think 5 years 80 million guaranteed is a "great" offer. Do the Mets really get credit for trying to sign Wright before we even see what they offer? In my eyes I don't believe they do and I'm very, very, very concerned that if Wright doesn't sign a deal they concern themselves more with 2013 ticket sales and letting Wright walk vs. what's right for the franchise. Until I see some proof the Wilpon's care about winning at all, I won't believe they do. The last move they made that showed anything resembling that was probably signing Jason Bay (who I didn't even want). Since then... not much.

I'm not giving the Mets credit for anything. I'm analyzing a positive quote, just as others are analyzing a negative quote.

The Mets were willing to guarantee 5/80 for Reyes...a guy with a history of injuries who Alderson really didn't want to keep. I don't see why they'd cap Wright at the same number.

Signing players is a zero sum game. Either you sign them or you don't. That's all that matters in terms of the product on the field.

The Mets haven't signed a contract worth more than $10 million a year since the 2008-09 offseason. I think it's fair for fans to take a "show me" attitude.

If a statement that they "could" extend Wright and Dickey in the offseason is what passes for postivity then things are pretty sad. For one "could" is very vague....not exactly going out on much of a limb. And secondly pretty much everyone has been under the assumption that that could happen all along...so this article isn't exactly breaking any news in that regard. The "new" news in this article is the stuff about the payroll not expanding (though many people were probably predicting that too) so thats why there is the focus on that.

**Sighs**

First off, I never said fan pessimism was unfounded. In general, I follow the late David Rakoff's rule of being a defensive pessimist myself. But there are certain things where I probably hold my punches on. Sports is one of them and I have learned over time to try and not to lose my mind over it. Not saying to just hide my head in the sand or even try to tell people to have some fun, but I am just pointing to areas where I do not really see reason for pessimism, which is far and few between with this team, I know, but is still present. I just find the level of pessimism pretty overwhelming to morosely insufferable, however, not unfounded.

Second of all, I never questioned the veracity of Burkhardt's reporting much less whatever news has come from the posts on Dickey or Wright about payroll, in any of my post. Others might have, but when you are enumerating your points after quoting something I wrote, then I assume that was meant for me. If not, then I would just agree and it is pretty damming that Burkhardt made that curt assessment.

Thirdly, I have mentioned before that I not only dispute that our attendance numbers are at the same level but also attendance has been completely devoid of passion in the times I went to CitiField. CitiField has practically become a layover spot for just 'baseball fans' than a place for Mets fans and I selfishly would prefer to not share our lovely ballpark in addition to watching a better product. It is like saying a neighborhood that was a ghost town in the recession now has inhabitants when in reality they are squatters who do not bother to take care of the homes. Just because the seats are filled in those spots does not mean it is the same person who came for over the last fifteen years rain or shine.

Fourthly, I never said that. I never said there was a difference maker in the system in terms of position players and I am not delusional to say a Jon Niese or a Tejada are those roles. I am not even going to jump the gun and say that about Harvey or Wheeler who probably NEED to be. I was disputing how there could not more Tejadas in the system or that Jon Niese was working toward being a #3 starter when his numbers from even last year showed him already being that and perhaps more. I never said I wanted a team of Tejadas, I said there could be a player who is a pleasant surprise a la Tejada this year- not in terms of duplicating production. I never said the outfield was NOT a mess, and it really is not good when three different outfielders closest to the majors or have seen the big leagues are doing very little for themselves unlike say, Tejada who at least did something to distinguish himself before replacing Reyes.

So now I am just not sure if this was directed at me, because I agree with you on most things that you mentioned. I am not going to say, we need a Mets Yearbook for 2012 edited in such a way that will be all sunshine and optimism. There are many problems with this team and I am not even so much agonizing about Dickey or Wright but who is catching, who is in any of the three outfield spots, what could possibly be placed in a minor league system to step in immediately if need be because I am not so sure about Duda/MDD/Kirk, our bullpen, the possibility of Jason Bay unbelievably playing out his contract, and who is catching (I am repeating myself because it is that questionable). I really hate that there is now a restrictive number unofficially capping any moves to be made because I feel what could be seen as positive aspects to this team would have less pressure placed on them otherwise. There are far likelier to be a Lucas Duda in our situation if there are little moves made than the Tejada example.

I agree with you, but just to play devils advocate - who in this free agent class do you think the Mets should spend 10 million a year on?

I think half the problem is that this free agent class isn't that interesting. Hamilton (yeah right), Greinke (will be overpaid) and after that - who? Nick Swisher? Shane Victorino? Michael Bourn (I somehow don't see the braves letting him go, but I've been wrong before). A lot of people didn't like the Jason Bay signing for 4 years 68 or whatever it was, if that Jason Bay was in this year's free agent class, he'd get a lot more than 4 years 68 and he'd be all ouf our #1 target. . . .

You gotta respect the free agent dilemma, which can be summed up like this. 8 maybe 9 times out of 10, when teams pay big money, they don't get their money's worth.

So I have a hard time killing the mets if they don't sign that 10 million dollar player this off season. On the one hand, I want an outfield bat, on the other hand, I'm not sure the guys out there are worth signing at free agent price-tags.

There are not a lot of guys in the $7 to $10m range this winter I'd want...my problem is that there might be some trades to be made that might increase payroll as well.

Any Met fan that thought the Mets were going to spend big money on a FA this offseason is kidding themselves. The Mets are not going to spend until Santana and Bay are off the books. Those 2 players are going to be on the hook for almost 50 mil in 2013. The only way the Mets are going to improve in the offseason is thru trade.