Billy Wags: I'll be back... just not with the Mets

Billy Wagner’s thrown his last pitch as a Met; if not his last pitch ever. If he wants to see Citi Field, he can buy an astronomically priced ticket like the rest of us or visit as an opposing player. And after attending Tuesday’s tearful press conference, I see the latter as a strong possibility.

Obviously, we can forget about 2009. Wagner will need that final year of his contract with the Mets to rehab his surgically repaired arm. And as far as the Mets exercising their $8 million 2010 option on Billy - there’s a better chance of Willie Randolph appearing in the Mets dugout this season wearing a Groucho Marx glasses/mustache combo disguise.

But most telling for me was what Wagner told us assembled media: the Mets would be stupid not to go after the Angels’ Frankie Rodriguez in the off-season. If the Mets follow Billy’s advice and land a top tier closer like K-Rod, you can expect the club to lock said reliever up for several years, meaning no room for a 39-year old question mark. Read more and watch the video after the jump.

In addition to Billy giving the Mets his blessing to search for his replacement, Wagner also made several allusions to moving on if/when he comes back, the most notable being “somewhere I’ll help someone win a championship.”

Feel free to assume that “somewhere” ain’t Flushing.

If Billy’s healthy in 2010, he’ll get a job “somewhere,” and for one reason: he’s left handed. The Billy of the present thinks the Billy of the future will no longer throw 100 MPH (a safe bet), and will have to develop a change up to survive (think Trevor Hoffman).

Wherever Wagner ends up in 2010 (major leagues, rehab facility, riding a tractor on his Virginia farm), Tuesday’s press conference will hold significance as the last appearance Billy Wagner will make in an official capacity as a Met. - Matt Estreich, Special to Bobby v. the World