Sell High on Angel?

Today was an exciting day for the Mets and one that poses a number of questions for the future.  Besides the Mets beating the Tigers tonight in a laugher, fans got some great news that Carlos Beltran is ready to start a rehab assignment.  This announcement also came on a night where Angel Pagan went 4 for 6 with 4 RBIs and only a home run short of the cycle with Pagan even admitting he was motivated by the news of Beltran's return.  Having too much talent on your roster is a nice problem to have, but if this is a legit breakout of Angel Pagan, let's take a look at some of the potential scenarios in the Mets' ongoing search for another top arm for the rotation:

Trade Carlos Beltran and let Angel Pagan keep playing in CF:
This doesn't look to be a likely scenario.  Beltran is making way too much money to be a real option for most teams even with a contract that expires after next season.  Also, I think adding Beltran to this lineup is too tempting a situation where you can now extend the middle of your lineup with quality top to bottom.  Finally, he's got a no trade clause, so it'd have to be a place he'd agree to before he went.  With a healthy Beltran and a move for a pitcher, the Mets would move into a situation where they'd be the favorite to win the NL.

Trade Angel Pagan when Carlos Beltran comes back:
It will be interesting to see if the news of Beltran's return spark talks of including Pagan in a deal for top starting pitching talent.  With Beltran signed through next season, he's going to be entrenched in CF as long as he's healthy.  After Beltran's big money comes off the books, the Mets will have room to resign him at a discount or get another top OF free agent.  The Mets also have Fernando Martinez at the current time with hopes of him being the future CF star in Queens.  So, while I like Angel Pagan, now may be the time to sell while he's looking like this could be a potential breakout.  Pagan is only 28 and was considered a top prospect with 5-tool talent when he was the age to be still called a prospect.  Even still, he could be an interesting piece in a deal with a current top prospect like Jenry Mejia and maybe another prospect for say a Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt.

Keep Beltran and Pagan and see what you can get for just the prospects:
This gives you a lot of insurance in your lineup.  Even though there isn't a lot of room in the outfield, you are left with a lot of depth.  Pagan can platoon with Jeff Francoeur and spell Beltran to make sure he stays healthy or in case he gets a relapse of his injury.  The Mets already planned to use the prospects to try and get a pitcher sending Mejia down this weekend to become a starter and knowing Jon Niese, Fernando Martinez, and others are options for the trading block.  I still feel the Mets need to make a move for a major pitcher to become real playoff contenders (can you believe how excited we'd be to say that at the beginning of this season?), so hopefully some hodge podge of prospects will be enough to land one.

Of course, these are all hypothetical scenarios right now.  Carlos Beltran is just starting his rehab, and who knows when he'll be back.  Angel Pagan is on fire right now, which is why we can talk like this.  Lots of pitchers are still available on the trade market.  All said, the season is still in its first half, the Mets are just 1.5 games out of first, we just won a great game off of Justin Verlander, and it's a good day to be a Mets fan.  So, instead of worrying who's going to play where, who we're going to get, and what's goin to happen, drink a nice tall glass of Mets kool-aid and enjoy winning baseball in Queens again.  Drink it up!