Who's Next, Dave Stapleton?

(Bill Buckner was too easy.)

In an effort to lock up every declining former Red Sox first baseman, the Mets signed Tony Clark to a minor-league contract.

You'll find that Clark was an All-Star in 2001 but that is only because the Tigers needed representation. Clark was a fairly productive hitter for five years from 1997-2001, but was a complete washout last year for the Sox. He is only 30 (31 in June), so old age should not be a factor yet. He could help the Mets but can only play first and there's a wide load blocking his way there in the form of Mo Vaughn.

I'm not sure what the goal is here: Do the Mets expect him to be a role player, something with which Clark may have some difficulty? Is he Mo Vaughn insurance? Is he there to motivate Vaughn? Do they expect to use him as trade bait? Was he just to cheap to pass up?

It just seems with all the other issues with this team right now (third base, aging rotation, center field, unwieldy contracts), Steve Phillips could channel his energies more effectively.