Mets should invest in a-rod.(Baseball)

Never mind how difficult it would be for the Mets to obtain Alex Rodriguez and squeeze him into their payroll. Just consider how quickly he would revive their franchise. Attendance would rebound. The value of the club's next local television contract would soar. Ownership's push for a new ballpark would gain momentum.

The best player in baseball would be a Met through 2010, provided Rodriguez wouldn't exercise his right to opt out of any of the final three years of his contract, each of which is valued at $27 million.

The Mets blew it by failing to sign Rodriguez as a free agent after the 2000 season. This is their chance to correct that mistake, reclaim the back pages of the New York tabloids and challenge the aging, bloated Yankees.

Yes, it's worth the $179 million remaining on Rodriguez's contract, particularly when the Mets could reduce their own commitments by forcing the Rangers to absorb high-salaried players in return.

It would not be impossible for the Mets to build a winner while paying Rodriguez $25 million per season. It has been impossible for the Rangers largely because they have made ill-advised investments in pitchers such as Chan Ho Park, Todd Van Poppel and Jay Powell.

The Mets, planning a $90 million payroll next season, might need to push it higher if they add Rodriguez. Then again, some of their holes can be plugged with affordable young talent. The rest can be filled with quality veterans at Kmart prices, thanks to the depressed free-agent market.

To waive his no-trade clause, Rodriguez would want assurances that the team will spend money. Even then, he might prefer staying in the American League with the Red Sox. But the Mets need to think big, difficult as it might be for them after crashing and burning with Mo Vaughn, Roger Cedeno and Co.