Trade Partner: Diamondbacks

According to MLB Trade Rumors the D-Backs are open to trade talks for anyone but Upton and Kennedy. The Mets seem like ideal trade partners as they are maybe a few players away from being serious contenders.

• Dan Haren: an ace starting pitcher (12.6 WAR 2008-2009) whose value maybe slightly down due to some bad luck this year (4.83 ERA/ 3.30 xFIP). He is turning 30 this year and is only owed $25.5 million over the next two years plus a $15.5 million club option for 2013.
• Kelly Johnson: a below average 2B although not terrible according to UZR who has raked at the plate this year with a 147 wRC+. He is only 28 years old and is only under contract for this year at $2.35M.
  
• Chad Qualls: a good reliever whose value also might be down due to some bad luck (7.77 ERA/3.56xFIP). He turns 32 this summer and is only under contract for $4.185M for the year.
  
• Edwin Jackson: a talented young starting pitcher who although never truly putting it all together has still pitched well. His value also might be down because of luck (5.38 ERA/4.02 xFIP). He is only 27 and is under a 2 year contract for 2010-2011 for $13.35 million.
• Brandon Webb: former Cy Young winner who was worth 20 WAR from 2006-2008. A very risky move as he is on the DL until after the All Star break in all likelyhood. However he could return to form when he returns. He is only 31 but is a free agent after the season ends.
• Aaron Heilman: Just Kidding
• Juan Gutierrez: a young reliever with a great arm. He is only turning 27 this summer and had a decent year last year for the D-Backs (4.17xFIP/8.37 K/9).

The D-Backs are hesitant to trade Haren if they think they can contend again soon but are open to trading him. The Mets could trade Brad Holt, Jefrey Marte, Dillon Gee, Jeurys Familia, Kyle Allen, Captain Kirk, Nick Evans, Francisco Pena, and Reese Havens to the D-Backs for Dan Haren, Kelly Johnson, and Edwin Jackson. Another player or two may have to be thrown in but as long as it isn't Wright/Reyes/Pelf/Davis/Niese/F!/Mejia/Flores I'm okay with that.

This way the Mets can have a 2B who can hit and not be a butcher in the field to fill in while Castillo's still out. This way Cora's option won't vest.  They also add a legitimate ace in Haren and a talented youngster who can be a good #2. The Mets also won't add too much payroll as all three have reasonable contracts in terms of money and years. The Mets would immediately have a deadly rotation of Haren, Pelfrey, Santana, Niese, Jackson. This also allows Dickey and Takahashi to go to the bullpen with Mejia returning to the minors to be a starter and Acosta to go back to AAA. The Mets would have an improved offense, rotation, and defense with the bullpen gaining immediate depth with Acosta and Parnell waiting in the minors. Omar said he is a starter away from being in contention. This would not only put us in contention but might even make us a serious threat.

The downside is that that the depth in minors would be depleted although we would still be keeping Fernando Martinez, Mejia, Flores, Thole, Tejada, and Matz as well as everyone on the major league roster. The biggest loss is in starting pitching depth with the talented Holt, Familia, Allen and more projectable Dillon Gee. However with the relatively young staff under contract for a few years the need for depth will hopefully not be needed as much. Marte is talented and young but hopefully 3B will be locked down for a long time. Evans clearly wasn't being valued correctly here. Pena is talented and very young but we still would have Thole. Havens is a loss but with Tejada and free agency that hole could be filled. Captain Kirk is also a big loss but the Mets OF seems to be set for a bit with Bay/Beltran/Pagan/Frenchy/Carter/F!. 

I know this will likely never happen but its nice to think about.