The New York Daily News' Andy Martino helps console Mets fans, who had warmed up to the idea of watching Cliff Lee pitch - just not on YES.
Club officials believe that Houston ace Roy Oswalt is imminently available, but the Houston righty remains a longshot to join the Mets. Astros owner Drayton McLane still wants top prospects and significant salary relief, and the Mets will not consent to those terms. Unless the terms change, Oswalt will not pitch for the home team in Queens.
The team is also down on the idea of adding mid-rotation help like Cleveland's Jake Westbrook, Houston's Brett Myers or other back-end starters. They might revise this outlook if the market demands they do, but the Mets would prefer right now to focus on the front of the rotation.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
