Mets Doesn't Snatch Big Names

NEW YORK (AP) â€” With less than a month until spring training, Mets general manager Steve Phillips most likely is done with his major offseason shopping. <br><br>And while New York was mentioned in talks

Wednesday, January 17th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) â€” With less than a month until spring training, Mets general manager Steve Phillips most likely is done with his major offseason shopping.

And while New York was mentioned in talks with almost every big player on the market, none of them will be suiting up for the NL champions come April.

``The sexy names are easy for people to get excited about,'' Phillips said Wednesday. ``We were in on some of them more than others. But we were in a good position because we had the core of a World Series-caliber team coming back.''

The latest player to slip through the cracks for the Mets was David Wells, who was traded by Toronto to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Phillips and Blue Jays GM Gord Ash had been talking about Wells since the general managers meetings in early November.

The Mets thought they were close to a deal last Saturday night, with only a player to be named left to discuss. But when Phillips called Ash back Sunday to try to hash out the final details, he found out the Blue Jays had accepted the White Sox proposal.

``Anytime you can add a pitcher of his caliber, you know it would help the team,'' reliever John Franco said. ``It didn't work out.''

The biggest offseason question for the Mets was the pitching staff, where Phillips had to fill holes created by five free agents and the loss of Pat Mahomes.

The Mets were unable to keep the most important piece, losing Mike Hampton to the Colorado Rockies in a $121 million signing. But Franco, Turk Wendell and Rick Reed all re-signed, the Mets traded for reliever Donne Wall and signed free agents Kevin Appier and Steve Trachsel.

``We did do something,'' Franco said. ``Steve is not going to make a trade or a signing unless he thinks it can help the team.''

But that still isn't Hampton, Mike Mussina or Wells. And there still is the need for a power-hitting outfielder.

Instead of frustration, Phillips gets a bit of inspiration by watching the New York Giants make the Super Bowl.

``The perception of the team and the reality of what we've done are two different things,'' Phillips said. ``Last offseason in football, people were all excited about the Redskins and their big signings. The Giants did smaller things, adding linemen and defensive backs. But that's what helped get them to the Super Bowl.''

The Mets likely will make additional deals, although probably not until the season begins.

``We still have some things we're talking about. But that was the biggest one out there,'' Phillips said of Wells.

Franco was promoting his Celebrity Bowl for Babies, which is expected to raise more than $250,000 for the March of Dimes in its fight to cure birth defects.

The pitcher broke down at one point talking about how proud he was of the money being raised and the cause it was going to, but regained his composure later.

``Giving up a home run isn't nearly as bad as what these kids have to go through,'' he said. ``Raising money helps make their lives easier and helps research birth defects.''