Beltran knows his Mets days are numbered

Unlike Francisco Rodriguez, who was dealt to the Brewers late Tuesday night, Carlos Beltran still had a locker at Citi Field after the All-Star break. But that didn't stop Beltran from doing Friday's pregame interview in the hallway, where he fielded a dozen questions about possibly following K-Rod out of New York.

Beltran has seemed coolly detached throughout the whole process and he handled this round with the occasional smile or laugh. When the session was wrapping up, he saved his most revealing comment for last. Just before heading back into the clubhouse, Beltran was asked if he had fun at the All-Star Game as the National League's designated hitter.

"I didn't like it," he said.

Let that be a warning to any AL club hoping to rent Beltran as a part-time DH. The Mets got lucky in sidestepping K-Rod's 10-team no-trade list because of an apparent oversight by his agent, who, according to general manager Sandy Alderson, never submitted the list of teams. Beltran has a full no-trade clause, however, and with Scott Boras running point on this one, it will be the best possible exit for his client.

"I guess Sandy said K-Rod was a different case compared to my case," Beltran said. "We'll have to wait and see."

Beltran provided another glimpse of what the Mets will be missing when he launched a 420-foot homer, his 14th, in the eighth inning of Friday's 7-2 loss to the Phillies.

Rest assured, Beltran will be wearing another uniform by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. He knows it, the Mets know it and so do other players around the league. Just ask Giants closer Brian Wilson, who unabashedly campaigned for him during the All-Star festivities in Phoenix.

"I only said hi to him once," Beltran said, smiling.

He did share a chartered flight from San Francisco with the Giants' All-Star contingent, and the world champs are in desperate need of a switch-hitting power threat.

Don't forget, Beltran also is looking for a spot to play the outfield on a daily basis, something that did not seem to be in his future as he struggled through knee issues in spring training. Now Beltran is feeling healthier than ever, though he was reluctant to call the Mets a contender -- something the six-time All-Star clearly wants to play for.

When asked if he was in a pennant race, Beltran refused to use that exact terminology, knowing there is a wide gulf between the Mets -- a young, scrappy team -- and the elites such as the Phillies. Even the next level, with the Giants and Braves, appears out of reach.

"I think we're playing good," Beltran said. "I think we need to improve as a team. We need to win ballgames against teams in our division. But at the same time, with David Wright being out, Ike Davis being out, Jose [Reyes] being out, there's going to be a lot of pressure on the younger guys trying to step in and play better baseball."

Beltran has enjoyed his mentoring role. But that's partly because he always knew it would be a temporary assignment.

"I'm going to continue to play hard until my last days here," Beltran said. "It could be two weeks from now. It could be years from now. Who knows? I don't know."

It was nice of Beltran to suggest he might be wearing a Mets uniform beyond this season, but unnecessary. Even if Beltran said he is feeling like he did in 2006, the only thing these Mets have in common with that division winner is the same subway stop at Willets Point.

Beltran signed a seven-year, $119-million contract with the Mets because he believed they were a contender -- and was looking to cash in. Now at the end of that run, Beltran no longer fits here. It's just a matter of how long the Mets want to take to say goodbye.

"I think,'' Beltran said, "the organization already knows their plans."