New York Mets GM Omar Minaya still believes deals are possible, and he could improve the team before August 31st, according to Mark Hale of the New York Post. This is assuming the right player clears waivers.

“We came close to some of the things we had been talking about, but in the end we really got to some of the prospects that were being asked of us, guys like Ike Davis or Jonathon Niese or even some of your younger players to be in some of these trades, and we were just not able to find the right team,” Minaya said.

“The good thing we found out in this process is different organizations like the different prospects that we have, but you have to be careful in giving blue-chip prospects and looking also where you are in the standings.”

The one name the Mets were believed to be going after was Chicago Cubs’ (now Los Angeles Dodgers) left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly.  The Mets did not want to pay the bulk of Lilly’s salary and also send prospects to the Cubs.

“Let’s just remember that we can still make trades tomorrow,” Minaya said.

“I do believe we will continue to have dialogue with teams and we will continue to have opportunities after the trading deadline. The fact that other teams made moves in the division, that’s fine, but I do believe we have a good team and we’re going to continue to win some games.”