Phillips better act quick. Sheffield's on the market and he wants to come to the Mets.

The closest Sheffield has ever come to being a Met was when he was dealt to the Dodgers for Mike Piazza who was then dealt to the Mets in the same week. Now there is another opportunity for Sheffield's childhood dream to come true. Feeling disrespected and underpaid in Los Angeles, Sheffield demanded a trade if the Dodgers do not restructure his contract. The trade demand was made specifically to the Mets, Yankees or Braves. Sheffield said that he would not request to have his contract restructured if he is dealt to the Mets, Yankees or Braves. Could Steve Phillips be in a better situation?

After having what many have called a disappointing and unsuccessful offseason, Phillips has the opportunity to acquire one of the best hitters in baseball and one who wants to play for the Mets to boot.

The only snag in the whole deal is that the Dodgers are not interested in the Mets top gem prospect, Alex Escobar. They want strictly just major league ready players. The players that draw the most interest are Jay Payton, Benny Agbayani, Glendon Rusch and Armando Benitez. The Mets do not seem too willing to part with any combination of these players so they have turned to possible three way trades that would send Sheffield to the Mets. Names mentioned in possible three way deals are Greg Vaughn, Carlos Beltran and Jeromy Burnitz.

It is very understandable that Phillips is not too high on dealing away the future of the organization. But understand this Steve ... to get quality you have to give up quality. Phillips' initial offer of Daryl Hamilton and Dennis Cook is not going to cut it if he expects to acquire a player of Sheffield's caliber.

None of the players of interest listed above are more valuable than Sheffield. Payton and Agbayani combined did not even hit more home runs in the 2000 season than Gary Sheffield did (43). This is not to say that Payton and Agabyani are not good ballplayers but that is just how good Sheffield is.

Many people may say that Sheffield has a bad attitude so they are scared off because of past experiences with Bobby Bonilla and Rickey Henderson. The fact is, there is an unfathomable difference between a player with a bad attitude who hits 40 homeruns than someone who has a bad attitude and bats .220 like Henderson was doing.

As the Mets general manager, after failing to acquire a big name player the entire winter, this is a opportunity that Steve Phillips has to capitalize on. Make the deal Steve. It will quiet down all the naysayers who have been criticizing the Mets stinginess all season. Sheffield is a marquee player who would fit so perfectly in between Edgardo Alfonzo and Mike Piazza that the Mets could very easily find themselves in the World Series again in 2001.