Make no changes and give up no prospects. That’s what I would do if I were Omar Minaya. What player could the Mets get that would guarantee a division title? That’s the point, there are no guarantees.

We need to ask ourselves as fans are we willing to sell off the Mets future for a shot, no guarantee, at winning a division title this year. And winning a division title guarantees nothing in the post season. The three tiered playoff structure is nothing more than a baseball tournament where any hot team can win. Witness the Colorado Rockies last season who steam rolled their way to the National League pennant then got bulldozed by the Red Sox in the World Series.

No, no, no. Enough is enough in terms of trading away Mets prospects. Some scouts say the Mets prospects are not that good. If so, then why are other teams asking for Jon Niese, Dan Murphy, and Fernando Martinez?

The main malady the Mets have suffered of recent is their age. The Mets are an older team and must get younger to remain competitive. Look at the Marlins? This is a very young team loaded with talent. They may be too young right now or lack the veteran leadership but shortly, maybe even this year, the Marlins are going to win at least a wild card or a division title.

The Eastern Division in the National League is going to be a tough division for a number of years. You know the Braves are going to retool and they have an excellent farm system. Don’t forget that the Washington Nationals used to be the Montreal Expos. The Expos had a tremendous farm system that spawned a number of top flight Major League players. Washington is building through that same farm and in a couple of years they will be a contending team. The Phillies too have good young talent and Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, like Reyes and Wright, will be around for a long time.

The point is if the Mets are not careful in holding on to their young prospects, in a short time they could be dwelling around the bottom of the division for several years. The Mets simply cannot keep hoping to win through the free agent market or trading four prospects for one player. Omar seems to be getting that now and there is a consensus among the Mets brain trust to hold on to the young players and build from within. It would be foolish to trade away talented players with a future for an average at best corner outfielder who may or may not help the Mets win a division this year. I think the Mets have a very good chance at winning the division this year anyway, deadline trade or not. So why give up on talent that can help in the long term if it does not significantly increase the odds of winning now.

I understand the win now philosophy I just do not agree with it because it cannot guarantee a championship. If it did, the Yankees should have won the last 7 World Series. They have not. Personally I would rather have a competitive team year in and year out than a team that is risking it all now for the possibility of winning such as the Brewers have done. Milwaukee traded away their top prospects for CC Sabathia who is a rental. The Brewers have no intention of signing Sabathia or Ben Sheets after this season. It’s not a bright future for Milwaukee if they don’t win this year. Currently they are three out in the NL Central but lead the wild card.

The Angels just traded for Mark Teixiera but they were headed to the post season anyway. That deal was made to combat the Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers, or whomever in the playoffs. The Mets are not at that level yet. Making a deal now will weaken the future and perhaps many other chances at making the playoffs.

I think if Omar is smart, which he is, he’ll wait till August and make a waiver deal or two. To me that makes more sense, especially with the cost of potential players before tomorrow’s deadline going out of sight. Right now in baseball it’s a seller’s market. As they generally say during such conditions—buyer beware.