The first time I ran through the Mets trade chips with regards to Cliff Lee I highlighted Jon Niese, Ike Davis, Jenrry Mejia and Fernando Martinez as targets who matched what Seattle is reportedly looking for (and what Jack Zduriencik has shown a taste for in his time with the Mariners)– players who could help sooner rather than later.  I concluded that the first three were unlikely gets as contributing members to the Mets’ playoff run, but might be required in order to beat offers from other teams.

Not long after that post Mejia was moved from the Mets’ bullpen down to AA to work as a starter, fueling speculation that he was being showcased as a trade chip.  A few days ago he suffered a rotator cuff strain, clouding his future as a trade chip.

With Lee pitching in New York this week there was a lot of talk about a possible Mariners-Mets swap, so I wanted to touch on some players who I skipped the last time through.

Big league outfielder Angel Pagan‘s name has come up a few times this week.  Pagan’s game was summarized well by Dave Cameron earlier this month at FanGraphs:

Pagan is the classic jack of all trades, master of none, and his skillset is routinely undervalued for its lack of any one outstanding trait. He hits for a good average, but not so good that he’s among the league leaders. He draws some walks, but isn’t an on base machine. He has gap power, but his slugging is mostly made up of doubles and triples, not the more flashy home runs. He runs decently, but isn’t a huge base stealer. He’s a good defender, but doesn’t make a lot of spectacular plays.

Pagan has no glaring strength (aside from his glovework, but the samples are still pretty small to judge whether he’s actually an elite defender), but neither does he have any weaknesses. He’s the National League’s version of David DeJesus – just a good quality player who never gets the recognition he deserves.

Teams can never have enough guys like that, and Pagan would represent a 2011 upgrade over Michael Saunders in left field and give the lineup some more versatility as a switch hitter.

I have a hard time seeing Pagan involved, however.  He’s been the Mets third best hitter by wOBA behind David Wright and Jason Bay, and their second most valuable player by WAR behind Wright.  Sure, removing Pagan in exchange for a replacement level center fielder and Cliff Lee represents an improvement, but it’s not the type of improvement the Mets figure to be looking for.

From Seattle’s perspective, Pagan would be a nice get but he doesn’t seem like the ideal deal anchor. If Seattle is looking for cheap, long term help, Pagan doesn’t really foot the bill as a 28 year old who is only under club control for two more seasons after this one.

But Seattle doesn’t have any left field options behind Saunders should he fail to find some consistency, so maybe some left field insurance is on GM Jack Zduriencik’s list.

I’m not sure who brought Josh Thole‘s name into play (Mike Silva, perhaps), but I have a hard time imagining him carrying a lot of value in a trade, despite Seattle’s catching situation.  Thole has hit for average the last few years, but he slaps the ball around for zero power and may have trouble walking at an average clip against major league pitcher that won’t likely be afraid to challenge him.  He’s done well in a small big league sample, but he is probably a backup on a good team.  Young catching depth is nice, but Thole wouldn’t likely threaten Adam Moore’s Mariner outlook.  Besides, the Mets can’t exactly afford to shed their catching depth right now either.  Thole isn’t helping to anchor any deal for Cliff Lee, but if he is we should be supremely disappointed.

In the same vein in Ruben Tejada, a young middle infielder who is currently playing second base for the Mets in Luis Castillo’s absence.  I think I might rather have Tejada over Thole, but he doesn’t strike me as a guy Seattle would be salivating over in trade talks even if the Mets really like him.  He’s got some things going for him– he’s only 20 years old and in the big leagues, he has some speed on the basepaths, he’s known as a good defender– but his bat may not develop enough for him to start on a good team.  Seattle could use the shortstop depth, but he’s another secondary piece at best.

Minaya is understandably being stingy with his high level talent (those four mentioned in the opening)– as he should be at this stage of the game– so many reports focus on the Mets’ talent in the low minors.

It makes sense that if Zduriencik can’t get the immediate help he’s looking for, he better get one hell of an A-baller if he’s going to make a deal.  In steps 18 year old Wilmer Flores, currently playing for high-A St. Lucie and rated by Keith Law as the 41st best prospect in baseball coming into the season.  Flores is a hitting prospect currently playing shortstop.  He’s not expected to stick there, winding up at third base if he’s lucky, but more likely an outfield corner or even first base.  That his position isn’t a huge concern is a testament to how good a hitter he’s supposed to be, and the power he is expected to develop.  But while Flores may wind up as one of the league’s elite hitters one day, he’s all projection right now.  The foundation is there, but you never know what’s to come from a player that young.  Think about the buzz surrounding our own Carlos Triunfel at age 18 versus the buzz around him now at age 20.  But while I paint a pessimistic picture, I would love to have Flores.  However, I can understand why Zduriencik might hold out for the higher level talent if he can get it (from the Mets or elsewhere).

A couple others:

• Jeurys Familia, RHP (A-adv) – Upside arm.  High 90s heat with little idea where it’s going. Developing secondary pitches.  Far from a sure thing, but can’t have enough of them in your system.
• Reese Havens, 2B (AA) – A personal favorite of mine.  Lefty bat with power and patience at a nice position to have it.  Missed the last few weeks with an oblique injury.  Value is limited to Mariners with the presence of Dustin Ackley.

There are options here, but you have to give to get and the Mets are probably going to have to part with something they really don’t want to in order to get Lee.  The New York beat and bloggers can tell the Mets to patch together a deal of Pagan, Thole and Familia all they want, but in the end Seattle needs to get something a little shinier.

I don’t see the Mets getting Lee.  Their best package picks away at their big league team, while the best packages of other teams will not to the same degree.