Grasping Straws?

Marty Noble at Mets.com writes about the Mets at the Winter Meetings and where they stand:

"The Mets probably didn't have enough to compete for any of the big names out there [Bedard, Johan Santana or Dan Haren] before they traded [Lastings]Milledge," a National League GM said late Tuesday.

"Now it's almost like they're grasping at straws. They're just too thin. Give [Mets GM] Omar [Minaya] credit for trying, but it doesn't look like they can be taken seriously."

A person familiar with the Orioles said the Mets' offer was made weeks ago and proposed again on Tuesday morning. Minaya declined to confirm that he even had spoken the Orioles.