If the Yankees were to make the right offer for Robin Ventura or any Met, co-owner Fred Wilpon wouldn’t stand in the way of the deal.
“Not at all,” Wilpon told The Post, commenting on any trade with the Yankees, not just one involving Ventura.
Trade talks between GM Steve Phillips and his Yankee counterpart Brian Cashman never have intensified to a point that a deal was close. This still appears to be the case.
However, by midnight tonight, Ventura must be a member of the Yankees if he is to be eligible for their post-season roster. Phillips said before last night’s game all waivers trades are “less than likely.”
With Scott Brosius still two weeks away, George Steinbrenner could instruct his people today to get Ventura, despite Enrique Wilson’s emergence.
“I’m not even thinking about it,” said Ventura, who considered the possibility recently when the Mets asked him to have an MRI done on his left thumb. Wilpon’s stance is significant, because the Yankees and Mets could do the unthinkable and help each other this winter. The two teams haven’t made a deal since Sept. 17, 1993, when Frank Tanana went to The Bronx for Kenny Greer.
The Yankees have viewed Ventura more as a 2002 bridge between Brosius and prospect Drew Henson in 2003. The Mets want to shed Ventura’s $8 million salary for next year to re-invest it in other areas.
The problem Phillips has caused himself is that with so much money tied up in salary for next season, he must shed payroll to create flexibility to produce change.
“The Mets organization will likely have a payroll that will be in the top five or six in baseball [next year,]” Wilpon said. “How Steve determines to spend that, invest that, is his prerogative. Is it unlimited? Obviously, it is not. No one is unlimited.”
During the 15-minute phone conversation yesterday, Wilpon declined to update the possible new stadium, choosing instead to recite his line that he is “cautiously optimistic.” He also declined comment on the potential buyout of his partner Nelson Doubleday.
Wilpon did give some insight into the Mets’ free-agent plans. With Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi possibly out there, does he expect to make a huge splash this offseason?
“I know [Phillips] has several different plans,” Wilpon said. “How they fall into line are dependent on a number of other things. That’s his domain.”
This is why Phillips has been intent on shopping Ventura and Todd Zeile, who is scheduled to make $6.25 million next year.
This year, Wilpon’s spent $95.5 million on salaries, but because the team failed to go after Alex Rodriguez and fell short in attempts for pitching help, there is a perception that the team isn’t spending money.
“It’s not the case,” Wilpon said. “We have spent very liberally. You can criticize, which is OK. Constructive criticism might say, ‘In some cases you haven’t spent where it is productive.’ I could accept that.”
Wilpon laments how a few wins here and there, the Mets would be in the race. Instead, they are thinking about next year, which includes dealing with the Yankees.
“Sometimes you have to trade a valuable person for another valuable person or persons that fits better into what your game plan is,” Wilpon said. “The player we were talking about just now, [Ventura] is a great player, he is going through a down period. He’s always been a streaky player. He will hit.”
