MLB Trade Rumors: Cliff Lee To The Mets?

I was doing my regular lunchtime reading to catch up on some baseball news, when I came across this article by Mark Hale at the New York Post. In the article he discusses how the Mets front office is willing to deal a package of prospecst for a 2-month Cliff Lee rental. He goes on to say the Mets would not require the 72-hour window to sign Lee long term should they deal for him.

So who does Hale think the Mets will deal to get Lee? Here are his thoughts:

With Lee, their philosophy would be different, the source said, citing the fact this would be an in-season acquisition. Lee simply would be a rental, and should he leave as a free agent after the year, the Mets would get compensatory draft picks for him.

The Mets also would be unlikely to trade either Ike Davis, Jenrry Mejia or Jonathon Niese in a deal for Lee, the source said. If they hold fast to that, then Mejia isn't auditioning for teams as he heads to Double-A Binghamton to be a starting pitcher.

Without those three in a deal, the Mets potentially could offer Seattle a package built around such prospects as Ruben Tejada, Fernando Martinez, 18-year-old shortstop Wilmer Flores, 20-year-old righty Jeurys Familia, and Triple-A catcher Josh Thole.

I think a package built around either Fernando Martinez or Wilmer Flores would get a deal done pretty quickly. Getting just one of those two would reap Mariners GM Jack Z more in return than he gave up to the Phillies for Lee in the offseason. Jack Z gave up Philippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies and Juan Ramirez, and none of them have been particularly good this season in the minors, with Aumont getting demoted to High A Lakewood a few weeks ago, and Gillies not duplicating his breakout 2009 season in High A.

If the Mets should deal for Lee, they could be looked upon as the favorites to win the NL East, and possibly be favorites to make it to the World Series. With a rotation of Lee, Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey, the Mets would have a solid top 3 in their rotation come playoff time.