Mets' Beltran showing trade value, too

With 27-mile per hour winds at game time and a chill in the air at Citi Field yesterday, it wouldn't have been a shock if Carlos Beltran decided to take off a day game after a night game.

Damaged knees can get a little creaky in cold weather or the morning after extreme physical activity like playing rightfield for the Mets.

But there Beltran was, batting cleanup and making his 19th start in a row. That didn't seem possible five weeks ago when the Mets left spring training with his day-to-day availability a huge question mark.

Now manager Terry Collins just writes Beltran's name in the four-hole without even thinking about it. And Beltran produces -- his two-run home run in the fifth provided some necessary cushion for Mike Pelfrey in a 5-2 win over the Giants.

Beltran is batting .292 with five home runs (four righthanded) and 17 RBIs in what could be his final season -- or months -- as a Met. "I feel great," he said. "Every time you contribute to help the team win offensively or defensively, it's a great feeling."

Just as with Jose Reyes (two-run triple), and to a lesser extent Francisco Rodriguez (shaky save), the better Beltran plays the better it is for the Mets. Not because of what it means to their record this season, but because of what kind of bounty Sandy Alderson can fetch from teams who will be playing meaningful games in September.

Heck, we could make a case right now that Alderson and Brian Cashman should get on the phone and figure out a way to get Beltran (and Reyes?) to the Yankees for a truckload of prospects starting with catcher Jesus Montero to the Mets.

Anyone who has seen Josh Thole lately use the old Bob Uecker catching tactic -- wait for the ball to stop rolling to the backstop and then pick it up -- knows the defensively challenged Montero couldn't be any worse. But baseball teams don't make blockbuster trades in early May, and the Mets and Yankees aren't going to help each other out.

At some point, though, the Mets are going to have to admit 2011 is not going to be a season filled with magic moments and prepare to send their walk-year stars elsewhere. Reyes has gotten the attention this week with the Giants in town and in need of a shortstop, but Beltran may turn out to be the most marketable and impactful bat the Mets can deal.

Who can use Beltran? If he's healthy, any team that's in the playoff race, especially an American League club that could give him time at DH. Beltran said at the end of last season he would consider waving his no-trade clause if the Mets asked; it's hard to imagine him passing up the chance to escape barren Citi Field for the bright lights of a playoff team.

Of course, all of that falls apart if Beltran is pushing his knees too hard and ends up back on the DL. Fans always assume players give extra effort in their walk years to get that next fat contract -- and there's unquestionably some truth to that -- but financial longings mean nothing if his knees don't allow him to take the field. You can't will yourself to good health.

"Maybe about a week ago he said, 'Put me in the lineup and I'll tell you when I can't play,' " manager Terry Collins said. "So we've done that, and he hasn't said a word. He's just gone out and swung the bat great, ran the bases great. I would say he's healthy."

Forget about "what have you done for me lately?" What should matter to the Mets with Beltran is "what can you do for me in July?" -- when contending clubs will come calling.