JJ Putz’s name has been coming up in trade rumors with the New York Mets all offseason, and Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News is just the latest to stoke the hot stove, reporting that the Mets have made a Putz acquisition an offseason “priority.”

All offseason the Mets have appeared front runners for Putz, but unlike the Detroit Tigers or Milwaukee Brewers, the Amazin’s don’t have much talent to part with, nor the willingness to part with legitimate talent.

The Mets farm system is absolutely barren, even before shipping off several players in exchange for Johan Santana last offseason.  At the trade deadline trade talks between the Mariners and Mets for both Jarrod Washburn and Raul Ibanez stalled because New York wouldn’t pony up anything worth while.

Outside of top prospects Fernando Martinez and Jonathon Niese, the Mets’ near-MLB ready cabinet is pretty empty.  Seattle would obviously be interested in either player, but it’s doubtful that they would be made available.  The Twins couldn’t get either for Johan, and Seattle were denied in July as well.

Beyond those two, most of the Mets’ top talent lies in the low minors, but there are some interesting players to consider.

Seattle would be wise to inquire on Mike Carp.  He’s a left handed hitting first baseman with developing power and fantastic plate discipline.  Just 22 years old, Carp posted a .299/.403/.471 line in AA this season, and has been cutting down on his strikeouts as well, which was once thought to be a potential Achilles’ heal for him.

He’s probably not a star, but he’d give Seattle some much needed depth at first and could be ready for regular MLB duty before Dennis Raben.

I think the Mets could deem him expendable as well.  They have Carlos Delgado for one more season, but they also have 1B Nick Evans waiting in the wings.  Evans was splitting time with Carp at 1B in AA, but skipped AAA to help out the big club down the stretch.  He would also be someone to ask about.  Of course, the Mets have enough money and prestige that they don’t always have to rely on prospects, meaning they can pluck someone from the 2010 first basemen class headed by Hank Blalock, Aubrey Huff, Adam LaRoche and Nick Johnson (all of whom would be fantastic fits in Seattle, by the way).

Dan Murphy is another interesting player.  He lacks a permanent position, spending time all over the diamond throughout his minor league career, but he can hit.  He produced a .290/.352/.444 line in 259 career minor league games before bypassing AAA (just one game) and hitting .313/.397/.473 in 49 games with the Mets.

The Mets are looking to add outfielders, so I doubt they’ll be comfortable moving him, especially since he can play three infield positions as well, but they are in the market for someone more experienced and powerful.

I think if Seattle could get two of Carp, Evans, Murphy or young reliever Eddie Kunz it would be a very nice deal for them (not to mention Martinez and Niese).  Unfortunately, these players are all top 10 prospects in a system as weak as the Mets’, complicating the issue.

Another obstacle is that Seattle has no immediate reason to move Putz.  He’s only owed $5M next season, so trading him would not save them a huge bundle of money.  Furthermore, his trade value has plummeted since being baseball’s best closer in 2007 due to injuries and ineffectiveness.  Seattle has time to let Putz regain some value, so they aren’t going to get fleeced.

 Prospect Insider’s Jason A. Churchill:

I was told this week by the Mets that if Putz was available, he’d be at the very top of their closer list, ahead of paying K-ROD, Fuentes, Wood…

But I was also told that the Mariners haven’t opened up those talks, and may not. They don’t necessarily believe they’d get full value for Putz having come off an injury-riddled season.

Seattle can safely wait on Putz, meaning the Mets aren’t going to get this trade done with marginal prospects.  If they (or another team) don’t crack, we keep Putz for at least another half season.  If they do, then we fast track our rebuilding efforts a bit. 

 We’d all love for Seattle to be able to move other players, but whether or not Putz is dealt could be an interesting storyline this offseason.

Perhaps Seattle could package Putz with Washburn to maximize their profit.  Jose Lopez would be another player they’d be interested in, as well as some of our young catching depth.  There has also been loose speculation regarding Kenji Johjima and Carlos Silva, but Mets GM Omar Minaya would have to be channelling his June 2002 self to make a deal that horrible.  Anyone have any ideas?