Mets looking at all options to fill closers role...

According to Jack Curry of the NY Times, the Mets are looking at all options to fill their closer role. Which include trade possibilities. The Mets have potential trade partners with the Astros (Valverde), Mariners (Putz), White Sox (Jenks), Rockies (Street).

There is a reason why all these teams want to trade their closer. The Astros would like to lower their payroll, The Mariners think that Brandon Morrow can replace Putz,  The White Sox would like to get younger and use Jenks as a chip, and the Rockies already have a closer in Manny Corpus.

The Mets remain interested in signing either free agent  Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes, but the prices for those closers remain high. The Mets are also looking into cheaper options in Kerry Wood and Trevor Hoffman.

The Mets would like to stabilize their bullpen by trading for a closer or signing a cheaper option before going into negotiations with the agents of  Fuentes and K-Rod because it will give them some leverage.

The Mets can pull away from signing a top tier free agent closer if they can get two closers from either via trade and sign.

Fuentes is looking for a contract between the $10-11 Million dollar mark for the next three years. Francisco Rodriguez is looking for a Mariano Rivera type contract around $15 Million a year, for 5 years. The Mets would like to get involved in the K-Rod sweepstakes if he would take a 3-4 year deal.

If  I'd had to take a guess, I would say that the Mets will end up with Huston Street and K-Rod, but who knows at this point, maybe that will change by next week...