With Moises Alou's injury still mystifying doctors, it's difficult for Mets GM Omar Minaya to properly evaluate what his team needs as it continues to lose games. "By moving 'X', what are you going to do when that other player comes back?" asked Minaya. "You have to keep that in the back of your mind, even when you don't know about the other player because it's kind of a gray area. What you want to be able to do is get to a very good spot in the standings and allow those other guys to come back and help out." Front-line starting pitching is always at the top of every team's shopping list. A starting pitcher of the caliber of the White Sox's Mark Buehrle or Jose Contreras would come at a hefty price. As far as adding hitting, the Rangers' Sammy Sosa or the Pirates' Xavier Nady may be available and fill a need. The A's designated Milton Bradley for assignment Thursday and the Mets have shown interest in the past. Complicating matters is the injury to Lastings Milledge who is not due back until next week but who figures to be part of any major deal. If teams sense the Mets are desperate to keep from drowning in the standings, the asking price could rise to the level of outfielders Carlos Gomez, who has impressed at the major league level so far, or premier minor league prospect Fernando Martinez.