New York Mets Notes: Top 20 Prospects, RA Dickey, Declining Payroll, Milledge

METS ALERT: METS HATE CHARITY. METS ALERT: METS CUTTING COSTS. METS ALERT: METS HATE KITTENS.

The major hooplah out of NYM today was that the team apparently hates everything right in this world and has sent a letter to R.A. Dickey politely reminding him that if he were to die on a mountain, charity or no, it could potentially void his contract. Of course, if he dies, his contract is of little import, considering his charity!

Then there's Sickels' top 20 prospects in the NYM farm system, a return-to-the-pack payroll redux, and some real gems from Amazin' Avenue and Olberman:

• New York Mets Top 20 Prospects for 2012 - Minor League Ball
  John Sickels of Minor League Ball surveys the field and finds a couple surprising results in the Mets' farm system.
• Mets ask Dickey not to climb Kilimanjaro - Mets Blog - ESPN New York
  Dickey has one-year left on his $7.8M, two-year contract. He is scheduled to make $4.5 million in 2012. Given the Mets' money woes, it is unclear if they will be rooting for Dickey or the mountain during his adventure.
• Yakult Announces Milledge Signing - NPB Tracker
  "The Yakult Swallows have finally announced the acquisition of outfielder Lastings Milledge. Milledge gets a salary of JPY 45m (about $570k at today’s rate) plus performance bonuses, and a club option for a second year. He’ll wear number 85 for the Birds."

• Twitter / @NYPost_Mets
  "Mets payroll for 2011 was $142 million - ranked 5th in MLB. If they fall under $100 mil for 2012, rank will probably be in the 13-16 range."
• Twitter / @AmazinAvenue
  "Classless Mets don't want R.A. Dickey to die on a mountain in Tanzania."
• Twitter / @KeithOlbermann
  Do the #Mets realize RA Dickey is safer on Mt Kilimanjaro than on the mound at CitiField? (Or Mt Vesuvius for that matter)