In winter 2008, the Mets paid a hefty price to acquire Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins. Four good-looking prospects and a six-year, $137.5 million contract is what it took for the Mets to secure their new ace.

As of now, the trade, at least based on the prospects, looks like a steal for the Mets. Philip Humber, Carlos Gomez and Kevin Mulvey are no longer with the Twins, while Deolis Guerra pitched this season in Double-A.

However, the problem for the Mets is that Santana just can’t stay healthy. What’s the point of having such a dominant ace if he’s never going to be on the mound?

Reports surfaced yesterday that it’s unlikely Santana will pitch for the Mets this season. With just over two weeks to go, his goal was to get back to Citi Field to prove to everyone that he’ll be 100 percent by spring training 2012.

He’s scheduled to throw four innings in a rehab start in Savannah this Thursday, but after that, who knows?

One thing is certain: The Mets are way out of contention this year, so is it really worth it to try to rush back Santana to pitch a meaningless game?

Yes, it would be a great boost of confidence to actually see him on the mound at Citi Field facing professional hitters, but it’s really not worth the risk.

Let’s say he suffers another setback and is forced into extended spring training next year. Then what?

He said he goal is to be pitching for the Mets on Opening Day 2012. A healthy Santana would totally transform the team’s starting rotation.

He would easily assume his role as the team’s ace and would take some pressure off of Mike Pelfrey. Jon Niese, R.A. Dickey, Dillon Gee and Chris Capuano—assuming the Mets keep these pitchers—would all battle it out for the open spots. Adding a high-profile free agent starting pitcher is very unlikely.

Since it’s been so long since we’ve seen him in action, it’s easy to forget that the Mets still have Santana. Well actually, based on his crippling salary, it’s not that easy.

Hopefully, Santana returns next year with a vengeance. However, if he’s healthy enough to pitch a few innings in late September, I’d say go for it.

The Mets have called up three prospects from the Buffalo Bisons to round out their list of September call-ups. The Bisons season ended Monday, so these players will finish the year with the big club.

Josh Stinson, Miguel Batista, Daniel Herrera and Josh Satin already are with the team, so the Mets should have a crowded the bench the rest of the way. To be eligible for a call-up, a player has to be on the 40-man roster.

Of course, the first of the new call-ups is first baseman/outfielder Mike Baxter. Baxter was called up to replace Jose Reyes on August 8, but saw limited playing time. Baxter has a decent lefty swing and the Mets will evaluate whether he could fit into a utility role on the bench for 2012.

Baxter is from Whitestone and grew up a Mets fan, so sticking with the club has been his dream for quite some time.

Chris Schwinden

Chris Schwinden isn’t exactly a major prospect, but he pitched well enough this season in Buffalo to earn not just a promotion to the Mets. He led the Bisons with 26 starts, 145.2 innings pitched, a 3.95 ERA, 134 strikeouts and tied for the team lead in wins with eight.

Schwinden makes his Major League debut Thursday at Citi Field against the Atlanta Braves. Remember what happened with Dillon Gee last year?

Finally, slugger Valentino Pascucci will be in a Mets uniform for the remainder of the season. He’s been around for a while and has hit a ton, but never got the call from the Mets.

Pascucci played in 32 games with the Montreal Expos in 2004, but he only hit .177 with two home runs. Hopefully, we’ll get to see the raw power that he displayed in the minors for so long.

In addition to these player moves, the Mets will be joined by minor league coaches and 1986 World Champions Tim Teufel (Buffalo) and Wally Backman (Binghamton). Minor league hitting coordinator Lamar Johnson and Buffalo pitching coach Ricky Bones will also spend time with the club.

In lieu of Daniel Murphy’s second injury at second base in less than a year and half, Mets GM Sandy Alderson addressed the media about a possible position change for Murph.

Alderson realizes Murphy’s hitting potential—as evidenced by his .320 batting average, which ranks him fifth in NL—and said that the team would like to find a spot for him in the batting order everyday.

However, not having a set position has hindered Murph’s development as a complete player.

He was originally brought up as an outfielder in late 2008, but he struggled defensively with the glove mainly in early 2009.

He has been able to spend the majority of his time in the big leagues where he is most comfortable—the corner infield positions—since the Mets always have at least one of their corner infielders hurt.

But looking towards next year, the Mets are expected to have a healthy Ike Davis manning first base and of course David Wright at third base. Where does this leave Murphy?

Though he would need a ton of work at second base, Murphy and Justin Turner could form a serviceable platoon. Both may benefit from having regular off days to keep them fresh, and the bench would have a little punch to it.

However, Murphy has shown he can be an everyday player based on his bat. He hits lefties well enough so that he can handle 600+ at-bats per season.

So the question of “Can Murphy play the outfield?” will likely be thrown around this offseason. Unless the Mets can swing a trade, Jason Bay and Angel Pagan will be playing left and center field, respectively.

That leaves right field semi-opened for Murphy.

Not only does Murph not have the arm strength to play right, but it’s highly unlikely that he has the range to cover the cavernous right field at Citi Field. Lucas Duda may not have that range either, but the Mets appear content with giving him a shot—at least this season.

There’s nothing wrong with having a super-utility player like Murphy who can play multiple positions. Though he’s not a Gold Glover by any means, if the guy can show he can hit, he’s still a valuable asset to this team.

Outfield may not be the best choice, but if there are no other options, at least it would be a way to keep Murph’s bat in the lineup consistently.

It’s unfortunate that he will miss the rest of this season after being injured in a similar fashion to early 2010. But the Mets will look forward to having him fully healthy next year—wherever he will be playing defensively.

So with Carlos Beltran likely calling somewhere else home within a few days, the Mets must look to fill a hole in right field long-term.

Lucas Duda will likely get the bulk of the playing time, but he’s really a first baseman. Imagine Duda having to deal with the Mo’s Zone for an entire season?

Today, reports surfaced that Angel Pagan, who has missed the last two games due to dizziness, could be a candidate to be non-tendered this winter, meaning the Mets will not offer him a contract.

Pagan has been a disappointment this season after a breakout year last year. So far, the new management regime has not been too impressed with the “Angel in the outfield.”

He’s trying too hard to hit home runs rather than let his normal game of speed and contact hitting dominate his play. Usually a sound defender, Pagan has looked lost in center field, especially with his decisions to overthrow cutoff men allowing trailing base runners to move up.

So what does the future hold for Pagan? He became a fan and organization favorite last year, so much so that it allowed him to be named the team’s center fielder ahead of the All-Star Beltran.

With Beltran likely on the way out and now with reports that the team could move on from Pagan, just who is going to man the cavernous outfield at Citi Field next season?

The Mets have a few talented young outfield prospects in Cory Vaughn, Cesar Puello, Darrell Ceciliani and Matt den Dekker, but only den Dekker is as high as Double-A.

On the Triple-A level, the oft-injured Fernando Martinez and the currently injured Kirk Nieuwenheis would be the only remote possibilities for Major League action.

If the team gets rid of Beltran and Pagan, most likely they would search for an outfielder via free agency or trade who can fill one of those spots. There are some decent free agent outfielders available next offseason, but none as good as Beltran.

If the team brings in a veteran outfielder, we may see an open competition for the final outfield spot in spring training.

There’s an easy solution to this dilemma, however: Pagan regains his form from last year. He’s a dynamic athlete that can be part of this team for a long time. He just has to return to the facets of his game—speed and defense—that made him successful.

With all the hype this week surrounding Carlos Beltran and the trade deadline, I felt it necessary to throw in my two cents.

Most likely, before the week is through, Beltran will be playing for another team. I’m normally optimistic about matters concerning the Mets, but I’m definitely realistic when it comes to this impending trade.

Carlos Beltran will no longer be a Met when this week is through.

Besides missing time due to injury and the unfortunate Game 7 strikeout, Beltran had a fine Mets career. He’s enjoying one of his more productive years this season as well.

So while Beltran will likely make another NL team very happy during the stretch run, he still will be a free agent after this season.

I’ve heard that some analysts believe the Mets would be wise to try to re-sign Beltran this offseason to a short-term deal.

I am very curious to hear what the fans think about this. I will present both sides of the argument to give everyone a clearer picture of what we are dealing with.

Beltran, when healthy, is an extremely productive all-around player. He hits for power, a decent average and has shown he can drive in runs in clutch situations. He also has shown surprisingly good range in the outfield, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he can shift back to center if he had to (or another team wanted him to be their everyday centerfielder).

Next year’s free agent outfield class will include Jonny Gomes, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Ludwick, Juan Pierre, Josh Willingham, Rick Ankiel, David DeJesus, Lance Berkman, Michael Cuddyer, J.D. Drew, Jeff Francoeur, Kosuke Fukudome, Xavier Nady, Cody Ross and of course Beltran.

Of this group, Beltran is by far the most complete player and will likely be the most sought after, except for maybe Berkman who’s having a phenomenal offensive season.

Since he will be heavily pursued, there will be a hefty price tag associated with him. He’s also a Scott Boras client meaning his agent will drive up the price. He’ll likely command a two-three year deal in the neighborhood of $10 million per season, if not more.

Do the Mets have the money to make this deal, especially with the possibility of re-signing Jose Reyes on the table? Reyes will easily get a deal of six-seven years, $130+ million, which may cripple the Mets payroll.

While Beltran may still be the most productive outfielder of the group, let’s look at the cons to re-signing him, regardless of the money.

He will be turning 35 years old in April. He’s no spring chicken and eventually his age is going to catch up with him. It may not affect him next season, but if he’s looking for a two-three year deal, that might be a factor.

Additionally, it’s tough to ignore Beltran’s injury history. Luckily, he’s been one of the few Mets to survive the second coming of the injury plague this season. But all it will take is the re-aggravation of a previous injury to make signing him a lost cause.

I’m very on the fence about possibly re-signing Beltran this offseason. First off, it’s very rare that a player will return to a team after being traded from them a season before. It’s not unheard of but still very rare.

In the meantime, who will play right field next season? The Mets young outfield prospects—Cesar Puello, Cory Vaughn, Matt den Dekker and Darrell Ceciliani—all could use some more seasoning.

Lucas Duda isn’t really an outfielder, but he’s shown he has hitting potential. Maybe it’s finally time for Fernando Martinez to step up?

Beltran seems to be too expensive an option as a stopgap in right field. However, if the Mets commit to him and he stays healthy, there aren’t too many better options than Carlos.

Like I said, I’m skeptical about this. I wouldn’t mind the Mets re-signing him to a short-term deal at a moderate price. But part of me realizes that it’s time to move on from Beltran and bring in some younger talent.

I want to hear what the fans think. Attempt to bring back Beltran this offseason? Let him go for good? The comments section is open, go for it.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Mets have some tough decisions facing them. It’s looking more likely that the team will hang onto Jose Reyes and attempt to negotiate a long-term contract this offseason.

However, Carlos Beltran, as some media outlets have said, is “as good as gone.”

Beltran is overcoming flu-like symptoms but should be in the lineup tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The San Francisco Giants have been rumored to have interest in both Beltran and Reyes. Unique closer Brian Wilson has publicly stated that he wants Beltran on the Giants for the stretch run.

The Giants have a few prospects that could intrigue the Mets if a deal were to occur.

Young slugging prospect Brandon Belt’s would be the first option. Belt, a first baseman by trade who could also play some outfield, cracked the Giants roster out of spring training but couldn’t handle Major League pitching early on. The Giants sent him back to the minors, where he’s hit at a .336 clip in 39 games.

Though the Giants seem to have a surplus of outfielders (Andres Torres, Pat Burrell, Nate Schierholtz, Cody Ross, Aaron Rowand), the defending World Series champs still have interest in Beltran.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said the team would hold out for the best possible deal for Beltran. However, if the Giants dangle Belt in the Mets faces, what would the Mets do?

Current Mets first baseman Ike Davis will likely undergo season ending surgery in a few weeks, so the Mets may want to think long-term as first base.

In all likelihood, the Giants will be patient in Belt’s development and hang onto him, at least for now.

But right-handed pitching prospect Zach Wheeler could be on the move. If the Mets were to pull the trigger on any Carlos Beltran deal with the Giants, Wheeler would almost 100 percent have to be included in that deal.

The Mets desperately need pitching depth, and the 21-year-old Wheeler could be just what the team needs. If the Giants are desperate enough in their search for an outfielder and are dedicated to add the best one possible in Beltran, Wheeler may find himself in a “New York State of Mind.”

The one drawback is that Beltran is a free agent—not to mention a Scott Boras client—and might only be a two-month rental player.

Would the Giants be willing to part ways with their top pitching or top hitting prospect for a rental player?

Let’s wait and find out.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Mets still appear uncertain about whether they’ll be buyers or sellers. Eventually, they’ll have to make a decision, and if they wind up being sellers, they possess several risky trade targets—possibly too risky to be thought of as rental players.

The first of course is Jose Reyes. Though Sandy Alderson has claimed it’s unlikely that the Mets trade Reyes, he may reconsider if the Mets fall wildly out of contention.

Reyes is having arguably the best first half of any New York Met in history, but his hamstring injury could be a problem for potential buyers.

For a player that relies on his great speed, a sore hamstring can be a lingering injury.

Would a team be willing to overlook injury concerns to acquire Reyes? Even so, would that team be willing to only treat him as a rental player if he is to sign elsewhere this offseason?

It’s a great risk especially since Alderson will seek prime value in return for Reyes. It will likely cost a contender one or two top-level prospects.

If Reyes can’t return to form and then chooses to sign with a different team, it would have been a lost trade for whoever acquires him.

On now to Carlos Beltran, who like Reyes is having a great first half.

Gradually, Beltran’s name has been popping up in multiple trade rumors, but like Reyes, has had his share of injures in his Mets career.

He’s been healthy this year, which has added to his play on the field. However, he still has two pretty poor knees that a team scouting him would have to notice.

All it takes is a minor aggravation of his past injuries for a potential trade to flop.

Beltran would not be considered so much of a risk if he was traded to an American League team who could use him at DH.

The riskiest of potential Mets trade targets is definitely Francisco Rodriguez.

K-Rod has been good this year, despite a few temporary lapses, but that looming $17.5 million option vests if he finishes 55 games.

He’s well on his way to reaching that figure, so a team looking for bullpen help needs to be skeptical.

If a team trades for him and he reaches 55 games, then that team is on the hook for the option.

However, a team may look to add him as a setup man so it won’t have to worry about dealing with him next season.

K-Rod isn’t accustomed to a setup role, and it remains to be seen how he fares in that spot. He’s no stranger to making things interesting in the ninth inning, so we could only imagine the havoc he could potentially create in the eighth.

If there’s a team in dire need of a long-term closer, K-Rod could be the answer for this year and next. But the likelihood that a team pays him that much money to appear in less than half the games is slim.

So while the Mets do have some trade chips, each carries significant risks that could call off a potential deal. Let’s see how the next few weeks unfold, however, before casting these players aside as trade bait.

This weekend, the rosters for the 82nd annual MLB All-Star Game were announced.

As we all know, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran will be representing the Mets in this year’s game—played next Tuesday night at Chase Field in Arizona.

However, the lingering question is should Reyes and Beltran be joined by one of their teammates: Dillon Gee?

Despite his great start to this season, the answer to the preceding question is “No.”

Gee has been a very pleasant surprise for the Mets this season. He picked up right where he left off (and then some) from his strong September last season.

He currently is 8-2 with a 3.47 ERA through 13 starts. He is also tied for the league lead in winning percentage at .800.

However, only 13 starts are probably what hurt him the most when NL manager Bruce Bochy was selecting his staff. Gee was brought up when Chris Young went down for the season.

If Gee had made those five more starts with some success, he might have earned a spot on the team. But for now, let’s be content that he is pitching great and leave it at that. If he duplicates this performance in the coming years, he should definitely be an All-Star at some point.

While the non-selection of Gee seems to be justified, the same cannot be said for Bochy leaving off a few NL pitchers having even better seasons that Gee.

Bochy selected four pitchers from his own San Francisco Giants pitching staff: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong and Brian Wilson.

Wilson—the closer—should obviously be there. Even Vogelsong—who’s been a career journeyman—rightfully deserves his first All-Star selection after posting a 6-1 record with a 2.13 ERA.

However, the selections of Lincecum and Cain—normally two of the games top pitchers—might just be Bochy rewarding his own guys.

Lincecum has had an off year and sits at 6-7 with a 3.04 ERA. Cain meanwhile is just 7-4 with a 3.02 ERA. Though maybe one could have made the team, taking both over other deserving pitchers doesn’t seem too fair.

Braves starter Tommy Hanson was probably the biggest snub. He’s 10-4 with a 2.52 ERA and has the lowest batting average against in the league at .193. If those aren’t All-Star numbers, than seriously what are?

Even Pirates starter Kevin Correia could be considered a snub. At 11-6, he’s tied with Jair Jurrjens and Roy Halladay—both on the NL team—for the league lead in wins.

These snubs may get a chance, however, to make the team as last minute replacements. Cain and Cole Hamels are scheduled to pitch Sunday so won’t be available for Tuesday’s game.

Hanson, Correia or maybe even Gee may get the call to fill in those spots. Either way, hopefully Gee will continue this output in the second half.

At a recent golf outing benefiting the Brooklyn/Queens CYO athletic program, I was lucky enough to meet and interview the legendary Mike Piazza. Not only was he a great baseball player, but he is an even nicer person.

As Mets fans, we will always remember Piazza for his on-field achievements such as leading the team to the 2000 World Series, hitting a memorable home run after 9/11 and passing Carlton Fisk for most home runs by a catcher.

However, what some fans may not realize is that Piazza is a deeply religious individual who relied on his Catholic faith during his playing career and now as a retiree from baseball.

“It just brings me a lot of peace,” said Piazza. “It allows me to deal with the issues of my new challenges in life for being a husband and a father and having a family.”

There was a time when Piazza lived and died by his success on the field. But once he started realizing the bigger picture, he was able to let go of that mentality and nurture other more important things in his life.

Piazza always prayed during games. Though he didn’t necessarily ask God to help him hit a home run every at-bat, he instead prayed for God to allow him to do his best.

“I just prayed to God to clear my mind and allow me to execute and do the best that I can,” said Piazza. “If I got a hit or didn’t get a hit, it really was irrelevant to me. Success and failure is not necessarily measured in wins and losses or numbers.”

Throughout his career, Piazza claims he was more concerned with the little things. He enjoyed connecting with fans on a personal level and encouraging people to push past certain limitations.

His story does have an inspirational value since he was basically drafted as a favor to his father but wound up turning in a Hall of Fame worthy career.

Additionally, Piazza is flattered that fans, especially young ballplayers, were able to find joy based on his success.

“Inspiring kids to be Major Leaguers gives me a lot of pride,” said Piazza.

When Piazza was younger, he claims he was selfish ballplayer but in a way that made him a good player. However, he realized that he was given a gift and wanted others to share in that gift.

“Once we get to certain point in our lives, we need to internalize our success and really gives thanks for why we are successful,” said Piazza. “A lot of those things are a spiritual gift.”

This idea of a gift, Piazza claims, ties back to his devout faith.

“Faith is a gift,” said Piazza. “We need to get back to roots and understand the path to true peace. Ultimately, if you look inside your own heart, you’ll find peace.”

While it’s one thing to merely state one’s faith, Piazza actually put his faith to practice, and there was no greater example than September 21, 2001—the first game in New York after the 9/11 terrorists attacks.

During a time when it must have been extremely difficult to maintain his composure, Piazza affirms that he relied on prayer to help keep him focused.

He claims, “I remember specifically on the first base line when I first heard the bagpipes and I started to cry, I was saying to myself, ‘Please God, let me execute and do my job. Please help me hold it together.’”

As we all know, Piazza held it together quite well and launched the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning—later known as the “Healing Power of a Swing.”

“I truly believe that was divine intervention; that was God, or at least the Holy Spirit, working through me to calm me down, let me execute and do my job,” said Piazza.

In the end, Piazza credits both his faith and his playing ability as the reason he’ll wind up in the Hall of Fame. While he said he would always honor his Dodger past, he claims the New York Mets hold a special place in his heart.

“Coming to New York was tumultuous the way it happened, but it was meant to be,” said Piazza.

After speaking to him and realizing what a generous and spiritual person he is, there’s one other thing that’s meant to be: Piazza entering the Hall of Fame in 2013 wearing a Mets cap.

Former New York Met Frank Catalanotto is a busy man these days. Whether he’s attending one of his four daughters’ sporting events or speaking to local little leagues, the Smithtown, Long Island native has been adjusting to life after his playing career.

Though he was a Yankee fan growing up, Catalanotto thoroughly enjoyed his time last season with the Mets. He just wishes it could’ve lasted longer.

“When I made the team I was ecstatic,” said Catalanotto. “I knew I was at the end of my career, and I didn’t know how long it would be, so I cherished every moment.”

Catalanotto found himself in a difficult position last season. The team was heading in a different direction and could not offer Catalanotto enough playing time for him to get into a rhythm. Though he had been a platoon player for much of his career, his at-bats with the Mets were way too spread out.

“Getting ready at the drop of a hat is kind of tough,” said Catalanotto.

Despite his offensive struggles last season, Catalanotto made a living with his bat. He developed a strong mental toughness in the minor leagues that transcended to the majors.

He kept a book that detailed each of his at-bats. While in the on-deck circle, he was totally focused on the pitcher, trying to see if he tipped any of his pitches.

“Once you get in the batter’s box, you shouldn’t be thinking,” said Catalanotto. “I got to a point where I could think, but not over-think it.”

In a memorable example while with the Toronto Blue Jays, Catalanotto noticed that then Texas Rangers pitcher R.A. Dickey—before he developed his knuckleball—was telegraphing his pitches. Every time Dickey’s mouth was open during his delivery, he’d throw a changeup, and every time his mouth was closed, he’d throw a fastball. It was these little things Catalanotto noticed that led to his .293 career batting average.

“Thinking away from the game is great and is one of the reason I stayed in the big leagues so long,” said Catalanotto.

These days, Catalanotto is preparing to head to Italy with former Met great Mike Piazza to help coach the Italian national team.

“That fulfills that void left in baseball,” said Catalanotto. “To be able to get on the field and help the team, that’ll be great.”

He said he wouldn’t rule out coaching in the big leagues at some point, but for now, he’s content spending time with his family.

Catalanotto also started his own foundation—the Frank Catalanotto Foundation—to benefit the research of the Vascular Birthmark Foundation. His oldest daughter was born with a birthmark but was cured with help from the institute.

Additionally, he runs Prospect Sports summer baseball camps for youth players in the Long Island area.

Catalanotto’s foundation will be hosting a golf outing at Cold Spring Country Club on Monday, October 3rd to raise money for vascular birthmark research. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and the cost per foursome is $1,600. Call 516-393-5870 to reserve a tee-time.

Follow Catalanotto on Twitter @fcat27.

Follow Jim Mancari on Twitter @JMMancari.