With Alou Out, Mets Looking At Ibañez

The possible career-ending injury to Moises Alou means the Mets have to look at the trade market for a replacement, and baseball sources are telling Newsday’s Anthony Rieber the Mariner’s Raul Ibañez is a possibility.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post reports that if the Mets are willing to take some money, "they might be able to use a Double-A corner player such as Mike Carp, Nick Evans or [Daniel] Murphy to complete a deal."

Ibañez is in the last year of his contract and can become a free agent next year. The Mariners have the worst record in baseball and are in the cusp of full sell-mode.

Ibañez has been one the most consistent players in the M’s roster, but at 36 and in the current trade market he’s more of a commodity than a franchise player.

The Manhattan-native played with Carlos Beltran in Kansas City.

"He’s a great guy," Beltran told Rieber. "Love him as a person, as a player. Great guy, great guy. I think he’s a great, great player. A player no one really talks about, but he always does his job. Driving in 80, 90, 100 runs, hits 25, 30 home runs, plays hard."

Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com. Comments? Rumors? Email me: alexo05 (at) umpbump (daught) com.