Jon Heyman of SI.com says Omar Minaya is “itching” to make a deal. The Mets want to hold onto top prospects Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Eddie Kunz and Robert Parnell. Heyman says that Minaya is spending more time on the relief situation.

If there were one thing I could take back from the magical 2006 season, it would be Darren Oliver. He pitched extremely well during that season, posting a 4-1 record with a 3.44 ERA in 81.0 innings. Bringing Oliver back on a two-year deal after 2006 was one move that Omar couldn’t make, but should have in hindsight.

Over the past one and a half seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Oliver has posted a 7-2 record with a 3.60 ERA in 110.0 innings pitched.

During his tenure here with the Mets, he showed unbelievable pitching in the clutch, with one instance that I remember real well during Game 4 of the NLCS in 2006. After starter Steve Trachsel was pulled in the second inning after giving up five earned runs, Oliver went on to pitch six scoreless innings against the Cardinals. Despite the damage already being done and the Mets inability to produce any offense, it was still a great clutch performance.

I truly believe the Mets really miss the job he did for them and have been desperately trying to seek the same type of player since he left in the 2006-2007 offseason. The Mets have tried a number of players in the long relief role that included Jorge Sosa, Carlos Muniz, Aaron Sele, among others.

If the Mets want to compete and make a run in the playoffs, they need someone who could take a game for 4-5 innings if need be. Granted this is far from the Mets top priority, it still should not be overlooked. The Mets have attempted to use plenty of players this year in the same role, but they have failed to strike gold on each try.

Talk to KC: As most Mets fans have heard over the past week, management is shaky on Duaner Sanchez’s recent struggles and would likely want to grab another bullpen arm. It seems as if Kansas City relief pitcher Ron Mahay could be an option on the trade market. I was begging for the Mets to take a shot on Mahay this past winter, but nothing came of it.

Right now, Mahay is 5-0 with a 1.81 ERA in 54.2 innings pitched for the Royals this season. The 37-year old reliever is due $8 million through 2009.

Getting Mahay could open up the opportunity for the Mets to send Scott Schoeneweis elsewhere. The Tigers were reportedly interested. If the Mets could acquire a right-handed hitting corner outfielder such as Marcus Thames for Schoeneweis, then it would all make sense. Thames gives you the power that the Mets could certainly use in the middle of the lineup. He is currently hitting .262 with 20 home runs and 44 RBIs. The Mets would also control him through the 2010 season. If you think beyond this season, he could be a nice stop gap if Fernando Martinez needs more time. Even if the Mets have to give up a small A-level type prospect in addition to Schoeneweis, it would be worth it. Getting Schoeneweis’ $7.2 million off of your shoulders over this season and next would be a job well done.

Admit your mistake: Utilityman Marlon Anderson has been hitting .207 with one home run and 10 RBIs this season. The Mets signed him to a two-year, $2.2 million deal prior to this season. He is becoming a liability off the bench with the bat and even at times defensively…and the Mets need to admit to their mistake and part ways with him. The only thing that is keeping him here is his track record for pinch hitting and even that has not been that great this season.

      I was watching SNY’s “Loudmouths” after today’s game and the show’s hosts Chris Carlin and Adam Schein suggested that the Mets should bring up Fernando Martinez to fill the void left by Moises Alou’s season ending surgery. I tend to agree with the two. I think that bringing Martinez, who is riding a seven game hitting streak in AA, is a good idea. Sure, many are going to say “no way, Fernando Tatis is doing great right now”, and those same people will say “Tatis is Awful, where is our new acquisition Omar?” two weeks from now when Tatis is mired in an 0-13 slump. I love what Tatis and Endy Chavez have done for this team lately, it’s great, and it would be even better if we could have them off the bench ready to play if we got another OF. I just don’t believe Tatis and Chavez will keep on hitting like this for the rest of the year, and this is why I’d like to give FMart a shot. As Schein and Carlin said, give him two weeks in the bigs and if he doesn’t produce, go out and get that OF at the deadline. I might be in the minority here and might get blasted for “ruining this guy’s confidence” if he doesn’t succeed, but i believe he’s ready and it’s just a matter of playing on the field, not a matter of if he’s ready to play or not.

Bart Hubbuch of the NY Post’s Mets Blog is reporting that Jose Valentin has called it quits for the remainder of the season.

The 38-year-old infielder called the team Friday night from Triple-A New Orleans and said he plans to take the rest of the season off.

Valentin, cited chronic pain from elbow and neck injuries for his decision to depart the Zephyrs.

In other injury news Adam Rubin of the Daily News is reporting that Angel Pagan may need shoulder surgery and Fernando Martinez is scheduled to return from his hamstring injury tomorrow.

Top OF Prospect Fernando Martinez will be sidelined for 3 weeks with a strained right hamstring. Martinez initially said he thought he would only miss a few days.

Good news, don’t want to rush back the Teenage Hitting Machine.

Hat tip to Mets Blog for the info.

SI.com Jon Heyman spoke with WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog:

Heyman spoke about the Carlos Delgado situation and sided with Delgado saying, “I don’t blame him, they (the fans) were beating on him all year so far.” “It’s tough to just forgive and forget that fast.”

Heyman was asked what Mets ownership thinks about all this?

Heyman said they are concerned, not that the fans don’t have the right but the negativity and the booing could scare off future free agents. Heyman said he thinks the Mets will go after Mark Texeira this off season. He added that the Mets are really only counting on Fernado Martinez from their farm system and they think that this situation could interfere with signing Texeira and other potential free agents.

Exactly, Heyman came across like he heard this stuff right from the horses mouth but whether he did or not, it’s common sense. Why would anyone want to “work” in an environment that reeks of negativity when there are other choices? Last time I checked the money is pretty good no matter where they land. Cmon fellow Mets fans lets make these guys feel welcome. You know, Root, Root, Root for the home team…

Mets top prospect OF Fernando Martinez has had a cool beginning to the 2008 season for the Mets’ AA affaliate the Binghamton Mets.

He is batting .230 in 61 ABs with 1 HR and 5 RBIs.  He has struck out in 17 of his 61 ABs. 

Despite his struggles, it has been a bumpy ride with both ups and downs.  He has four multi-hit games including last night when he was 2-5 with an RBI.

Also of note, he is batting .111 vs. lefties, while he is batting .324 vs. righties.

He’s only 19, but from watching him in Spring Training I think we know the type of power he has.  He really has to improve his plate discipline though, K’s at the plate will come from power hitters, but he is also supposed to be a very strong average guy so his eye has to improve.

The Mets reassigned four more players to minor league camp yesterday, none of whom were realistic shots to start the season with the Mets anyway. Fernando Martinez was the only big name given his traveling papers and a hug goodbye from Omar. He will be reassigned to AA Binghamton, home of the only Mets with Bees on their uniform.

Tony Armas, having joined the team this week due to visa issues (the legal residence kind, not the plastic charge card), Nate Field and Joselo Diaz round out the group that was reassigned as well. Neither was believed to have received a hug goodbye from Omar.

In his latest mailbag post for Mets.com, Marty Noble notes that the team is now saying that they probably will not trade for a player to keep left field warm for Moises Alou, who is out until May.

Among the in-house candidates to replace Alou in left field:

Angel Pagan has posted a .351 average in 57 at-bats so far this spring, with 1 home run, 10 RBIs, scored 8 runs and an on-base percentage of .373.

Damion Easley, who is returning from torn ankle ligaments that ended his 2007 season, is hitting .105 in 19 at-bats, with 1 home run and 4 RBIs.

Endy Chavez appears to be the lead man for the starting job in left field come opening day. Returning from an ankle and hamstring injury in winter ball, Chavez made his spring debut on March 8th. In 27 at-bats, Endy has recorded a .259 batting average with 4 runs scored and 4 runs batted in.

The 34-year old Brady Clark has been seeing a ton of time in the outfield this spring in attempt to land a spot on the Mets 25-man roster. In 43 at-bats, Clark has put up a .302 average and .412 on-base percentage, while scoring 5 runs.

The 19-year old phenom Fernando Martinez is the long shot to head north with the team, but regardless, he is hitting .326 in 46 at-bats with 5 runs scored and 3 runs batted in.

Finally, Marlon Anderson, who may have to play first-base if Carlos Delgado is not ready, is hitting .222 in 18 at-bats.