Reports suggest Mets may be frontrunner for Cliff Lee

We've heard the Mets interested in Cliff Lee, but never before like this.

On Sunday, Jenrry Mejia suffered a posterier cuff strain during his second start in Double-AA. Now, analysts are saying that it could be possible for the Mets to acquire Lee without sacrificing Mejia. From MLBTradeRumors:

"Will Jenrry Mejia's posterior cuff strain prevent the Mets from trading for Mariners ace Cliff Lee? GM Omar Minaya obviously could not talk specifically about Lee when asked by Kevin Kernan of the New York Post "if the Mejia setback is a setback to trade possibilities." But Minaya kept a brave face and replied, "I don’t think so because I think we have other very good possibilities." At least one of Minaya's current players does think the team lost its chance to acquire Lee with Mejia's injury, according to Kernan."

The post goes on to say that the Mariners would have interest in Ike Davis, the Mets' star rookie sensation, but that the Mets would bluff at trading him. Instead, the consensus is that Seattle wants young hitters, and their best bet is to go by the Double-AA route. Tim Dierkes' believes that the Mets could not acquire Lee with Fernando Martinez as the center piece, seeing as how his stock has considerably falling, just hitting a robust .248/.299/.397 at Triple-AAA Buffalo.

Mark Hale of the New York Post suggests that the Mets could afford to trade for Lee if they would sacrifice a package of prospects including: INF Ruben Tejada, OF Fernando Martinez, SS Wilmer Flores, RHP Jeurys Familia, INF Reese Havens and C Josh Thole. In my opinion, that is too much to give talent to give for Cliff Lee. Maybe I'd package Tejada, Thole, and Familia with some lower level guys, but that's all the top talent I'm giving. Giving all that talent would wipe out the Mets' farm. It's reported that in any trade for Lee, Seattle wants a catcher, which explains why they have looked so thoroughly at the Yankees' minor league system and scouted Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, J.R. Murphy, Gary Sanchez, and Kyle Higashioka.

However, contrary to MLBTradeRumors last report, the Mets may be interested in trading Mejia to Seattle if Lee gives the Mets a negotiating window to sign to an extension. It's unlikely and it's been said that the Mets would not give up Mejia, Jonathon Niese, and Davis for Lee.

To me, I think that Davis is untouchable, he's the first baseman of the future. Niese is going to be a #3 starter for the Mets for years to come behind Santana and Pelfrey. I'd be comfortable giving up Mejia. Why? Well for starters, you don't have to worry about him hurting you if he becomes good. He'll be in a different league and division, the American League West. Also, he's just a prospect and that's that. Davis and Niese have proved that they can handle the majors, while Mejia, who did come up, was only used as a reliever. If I'm the Mets, I would give up Mejia, but I'd like to find an alternate route to acquiring Lee, even if it means giving up 2 or 3 of my Double-AA prospects.