Joe Smith

THURSDAY, 12:56am: Rosenthal raises the question of whether the Mets will exercise Putz’s 2010 option for $9.1MM now that he’s a setup man.  I think if he’s worth that amount pitching the ninth he’s worth it pitching the eighth.

Putz seems excited about the trade, even if his agent says otherwise.  Ben Shpigel explains how the deal came together while reporters were in an adjacent room.

WEDNESDAY, 11:02pm: Geoff Baker says the Mariners got three additional minor leaguers from the Mets: pitcher Maikel Cleto, outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, and pitcher Jason Vargas.

10:17pm: MLB.com’s Jim Street confirmed the deal.  The Mariners give up Putz, Green, and Reed and get Heilman, Chavez, Carp, and Gutierrez.  The Indians give up Gutierrez and get Valbuena and Smith.  The Mets give up Heilman, Chavez, Carp, and Smith to get Putz, Green, and Reed.

The Mets succeeded in overhauling their bullpen without giving up premium pieces.  Assuming Putz and K-Rod are healthy, they’ll be playing seven-inning games.

The Mariners can try Heilman the rotation, and add good outfield depth.  I’m kind of lukewarm on the Indians’ benefit.

10:02pm: Geoff Baker says a previous incarnation with the Rays instead of the Mets fell apart.  In that deal, the Tigers would’ve included Jeff Larish.

9:27pm: Rosenthal has an update:

Under terms of the deal, the Mets would get Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green. The Mariners would receive reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first baseman Mike Carp from the Mets. They’d also get Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians and minor leaguers. The Indians would get reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena from Seattle.

David Lennon seems to agree.

9:06pm: Jon Heyman says the Mets would surrender six players in this blockbuster.

8:40pm: MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince says the three teams "appear to be on the verge" of a deal.  He says that if the deal goes through the Mariners would get Gutierrez and the Indians would get Joe Smith and Mariners prospect Luis Valbuena.  Heilman and Jeremy Reed would also be involved in some capacity.  Graziano suggests not all of the players in the trade have been decided upon.  Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik admitted a proposal is on the table.

8:06pm: Rosenthal softened the language of his post – he now says the Mets are trying/working to acquire Putz rather than close to a deal.  He also mentions that the deal would involve one or more prospects.

8:00pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Mets are close to acquiring Mariners reliever J.J. Putz in a three-team trade.  Putz and K-Rod will be quite a late inning tandem.  The Indians are also involved in the trade.  Other players in the mix:  Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, Mike Carp, and Franklin Gutierrez.  Rosenthal is not sure yet who’s heading where.

Dan Graziano has the story as well, but does not mention the Indians.