With Carlos Beltran back in action the Mets are shifting Angel Pagan to RF. That leaves 26-year old righty swinging outfielder Jeff Francoeur on the bench. Francoeur has played in 92 games for the Mets this season and he is 76 of 308 (.247 avg, .677 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 8 homers, 42 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. The Mets are going to try to trade Francoeur because he will likely mope sitting on the bench. If not by July 31st, then some time in August the Mets will try to deal Francoeur. Despite his age, I don’t think the Mets will get a big haul in return for him.

The Mets have designated 28-year old righty reliever Fernando Nieve for assignment. Nieve pitched in 40 games (1 start) for the Mets this year and he was 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He pitched in 48 games (8 starts) in his two years with the Mets and he was 5-7 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. The Mets have recalled 29-year old righty reliever Manny Acosta to replace Nieve in the bullpen. Acosta pitched in 12 games (0 starts) earlier this year for the Mets and he was 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Acosta also has pitched in 28 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he was 2-3 with 5 saves, a 3.47 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. The Mets think that Acosta will pitch better than Nieve did for them and I think they are definitely right.

The Mets have signed 28-year old righty reliever Chad Cordero to a minor league deal. Cordero pitched in 9 games (0 starts) earlier this year for the Mariners and he was 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He has now pitched in 314 games (0 starts) in his seven years in the majors and he is 20-15 with 128 saves, a 2.89 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. This was a low risk/high reward signing for the Mets who can just cut him if they don’t like what they see.

The biggest need on the Mets is starting pitching. With that in mind I would go after Jake Westbrook with the idea of the Indians paying him the rest of the year. For that I would give up 20-year old righty starting pitcher Kyle Allen, 25-year old righty reliever Bobby Parnell and 20-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Ruben Tejada. Then remembering that the Mets aren’t in the best financial situation right now I would try to make a couple of minor deals. I really like infielder Jeff Keppinger of the Astros and I would be willing to part with 25-year old righty reliever Tobi Stoner to get him. I think the Astros would make that deal. Keppinger then could battle Luis Castillo for the 2B job while backing up at SS and 3B. The Brewers are dangling righty reliever Carlos Villanueva in the trade market and I think he would be a good fit for the Mets. The Brewers would probably take 23-year old lefty swinging 2B/SS Jordany Valdespin and 25-year old infielder Justin Turner for him. So if I were the Mets’ GM I would try to bring in Jake Westbrook, Jeff Keppinger and Carlos Villanueva. Those aren’t sexy names on the trade market but they would make the Mets a better team without a doubt.

29-year old lefty reliever Mike O’Connor has really been pitching pretty good ball in AAA for the Mets this year. He has pitched in 33 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 0-1 with 2 saves, a 2.82 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. O’Connor has whiffed 37 batters in 38 1/3 innings so he has been looking sharp. If the need arises for a lefty reliever and O’Connor continues to pitch well look for him to get a call to the majors.