Unbelievable about Zambrano, huh?

That deal for him - trading away Kazmir - can't wind up being the worse deal in Mets history (Jim Fregosi for Nolan Ryan will always have that honor, I think), but it might alreay be regarded as the second worst.

Now I'm listening to Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio discussing the Mets possibly trading Lastings Milledge for Barry Zito.

I say "NO WAY"

First of all, the NL in general and the East in particular look so weak that I don't think the Mets even need an all-star caliber starter like Zito to make it to the World Series.

I think a mid-level starter - a guy like Kris Benson (lol), Jeff Weaver, Joel Pineiro, Glendon Rusch, etc., etc. - is more than good enough.

Pedro, Glavine, Trachsel, Bannister (when he comes back), and whoever they can pick up in a deal for a mid-level or "decent" prospect (not a Milledge-caliber guy) are fine with me, except they're still very short on depth.

(How dumb were the Mets to trade away Benson for Jorge Julio, Anna Benson notwithstanding. Who cares about her?)

Second of all, you gotta wonder if coming off his last two years (11-11, with a 4.48 in 2004, and 14-13 with a 3.86 last year) and his somewhat shaky start this year (2-2, 4.07, Zito even is an all-star caliber pitcher anymore.

And finally, he becomes a free agent after this season, so I wouldn't be willing to give up much for him unless I could sign him first.

On the other hand, you think of all of those "can't-miss" prospects....all of those "Five-Tool" guys that not only didn't become big stars, but didn't even have a career. Alex Escobar, the guy the Mets let go in the Roberto Alomar trade comes immediately to mind. Jay Payton is another one, altho he had a career at least.