Mets not ‘Beirut’ for Joe Torre?

Joe Torre back in the Mets’ dugout?

ESPN’s Buster Olney sees the Mets as a potential good destination for Torre:

And one option that would make a lot of sense for Torre if he leaves the Dodgers — and there is a sense among some who know him that he is very frustrated with the team’s ownership situation — would be a reunion with the Mets, if they’re looking for a new manager after this season. Torre could return to New York, he would be managing for a team that will spend money, and, perhaps most important of all, he would not require complete power.

The Mets have come a long way from the offseason, when Peter Gammons claimed that Jason Bay would rather play in Beirut. Then there was speculation that Mets management and money issues were driving free agents away from Citi Field.

But things must be really bad with the Dodgers for the grass to be greener in Queens. The Mets are still suffering from their failure to spend after signing Bay. Joel Pineiro has had an up and down year, but last night he shut out Tampa Bay over 6 1/3, allowing five hits, one walk and striking out seven. In seven starts, Jon Garland is 4-2 with an ERA of 1.71 and 1.21 WHIP. Either one of them would look pretty good in the rotation instead of Oliver Perez.

The budget options the Mets turned to have mostly been a disaster (except at catcher). What manager would look forward to having to deal with the Mets’ bench? At least Frank Catalanotto finally got DFA’d last night, but that still leaves Gary Matthews Jr.

Catalanotto’s departure means that Chris Carter is coming up, which raises other issues. The Mets saved money by acquiring Carter for Billy Wagner, instead of keeping Wagner last year and offering arbitration, which would have netted the Mets draft-pick compensation.

Wagner ended up signing with the Braves. A couple of years ago, the Mets got a compensation draft pick from the Braves for Tom Glavine and it turned out to be Ike Davis. But instead of another first-rounder, the Mets ended up with Carter, considered a quadruple-A player.

Joe Torre to the Mets would certainly generate headlines, but it probably wouldn’t work out for either side. As Squawker Lisa is only too pleased to point out, Torre has not been at the top of his game for some time. And Torre would be frustrated with the Mets’ decision-making or lack thereof.

There is one thing about the Mets that could appeal to Torre, however – the willingness to allow the bullpen to be overworked.