Leiter B-lieves Mets Need Manny

Bill Price reports on the Al Leiter interview heard on the FAN, with Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts. Price, as well as Benigno and Leiter, are in agreement that the Mets should make an attempt to bring Manny aboard for the 2009 season. The idea of a one yr deal with an optionis has been floated around, yet again. While he concedes there is a likelihood that Manny can "be a headache for Jerry Manuel or the Mets PR", the pitchers would love to have a bat like Manny's in the lineup. In addition, Manny is well liked by his teammates.
This may be wishful thinking; he makes the point that Omar "would do it in a second, but we also know the Wilpons haven’t exactly given Minaya a blank check to work with this year." In his opinion, there are less than a handful of teams that can afford Manny. You got it, the usually suspects - Mets, Yanks and Dodgers.
I believe after the Yankees spent like drunken sailors this winter, they're not a player. Furthermore, they're actively trying to move Nady and/or Swisher, depending who you get your Hot Stove scoop from. To me, it looks like Manny's the Dodgers to lose. Now, should the Wilpons wake to an epiphany and open their checkbook, I believe it will take two years with an option for a third to bring Manny to Citi Field.
Price shares more about Leiter: He discussed his days with the Mets and then discussed the fact that he was booed during the Shea Goodbye ceremony on the last day of the season. I know his time with the Mets ended badly, but I would argue he is the best Mets starting pitcher since Doc Gooden and David Cone left town. I hope Johan Santana will make that statement false by the end of this year, but if you look at Leiter’s time with the Mets, it’s hard to argue.

Ahh, Al's a bit sensitive!