Updated 12:15 PM

There seems to be growing interest on Marlon Byrd according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:

But reports are rampant that the price is high and Mets would have to be blown away to trade Marlon Byrd.

Original Post 9:00 AM

An American League club that has spoken with the Mets was told the New York club would need to “win” the trade in order to part with Marlon Byrd, reports Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. So it is entirely possible, given the Mets’ demands, that Byrd remains a Met after Wednesday’s 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline, he concludes.

“If something presented itself we would consider it,” a team official told Mike Puma of the New York Post. “But we haven’t been presented with anything. We’re just sitting tight. … We’re not motivated to move anybody. It’s hard to go to people. They have to come to you. It’s better to be asked to the prom than have to ask somebody.”

marlon byrd

The Mets are 6-6 since the All-Star break after last night’s 6-5 victory over the Marlins and are 12 1/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East, but still view the idea of a potentially strong finish to the season as more favorable than trading away top talent just for the sake of making a deal.

The Mets official added, “We’re in a really good spot. Unless you’re going to be knocked over, you don’t make a trade. You have A, B and C prospects. If you are going to get a ‘C’ prospect for somebody what does it really do?””

How many times can you read or hear the same things? Since as far back as May, there’s been grumblings of trading Byrd and discussions about what we could get for him. But from the things I’ve heard all along and from different people connected to the Mets or are close to the situation, it’s always been clear that the Mets have no inclination to trade their right fielder. None. That stance has never waffled.

A week or so ago, we bounced around the idea of trading Byrd between myself and my co-writers here and it was pretty much a mixed bag.

Should the Mets trade or keep Marlon Byrd?

Daniel – Trade him, but only if they can get something worthwhile. I think Sandy Alderson is capable of doing that. Marlon Byrd just doesn’t make sense on this team going forward. If Scott Hairston has taught us anything, it’s that no matter what Byrd winds up with statistically, Alderson isn’t going to want to give him the money he wants in free agency. The Mets might as well get something out of him now.

Satish – This shouldn’t even be a question, but Alderson’s probably too scared to take the heat. Byrd is probably our most valuable trade piece that we’d actually part with at the deadline. This team wasn’t built to succeed and we need to capitalize on the fact that we have an opportunity to get a new prospect here. Aardsma could also be a tradeable piece. It’s a shame that we’ve come to this point, but Alderson made this bed of nails, and he better not be afraid to sleep in it.

Joe S. – They should definitely listen to offers as he’ll probably look to cash-in next year with how he’s played this season.

Gerry – Trade him only if they can get a good piece back

XtreemIcon – Keep. Byrd won’t net anything that would significantly impact the future. His production far outweighs his potential return and there’s been several reports about his positive clubhouse presence. That can’t be overlooked on a young team. If he’d be amenable to a one-year extension with the understanding he’d be a 4th outfielder/platoon/occasional starter next season, I’d sign him right now.

Andre – I´d say keep him unless someone offers a Top 100 in Baseball prospect for him. Beyond exceeding expectations with the bat, Byrd seems to have emerged as a natural leader for this mostly young group of players who seems to enjoy his time here. Considering the looming 40-man roster crunch, getting someone´s 2nd or 3rd tier prospect(s) for Byrd doesn´t make a lot of sense when there may not even be room for your own prospects such as Eric Goeddel or Francisco Pena among others after the season.

Tommy – This team will not be competitive going forward and if they can get something useful for him, they must do so.

Eric – Should they trade him? Yes. WILL they? I don’t know. Sandy held onto Scott Hairston last year, and Byrd is a similar candidate. While he’s flashed some nice leather and a healthy power stroke, his OBP is pretty low, and he wouldn’t be much more than a 4th OF on a contender. The question is how much teams will pay for that.

Matt B. – As much as I like him, he probably has more value now than he will ever have, and he’ll probably never duplicate this production, if they can get a prospect for him I’d do it. He’s not part of the future, and obtaining him cost us nothing so if they can further shore up the future by flipping him it’s a no-brainer. Helping the younger players is what the coaching staff is for. Thing is there don’t seem to be a lot of contending teams with big holes in the OF, so it’s a long shot that they trade him, but I think they will try.

Barry – Should the Mets trade or keep Marlon Byrd? What offers will they get ? Not for a c-level prospect (like the Cubs got for Hairston), that’s for sure.

David – Even though Byrd is having a career year, what will the Mets actually get for him, the verdict is still out on his breakout season and no team is going to give up much for a player that only once put up these numbers. Keep Byrd, allow him to finish the season. The Mets will not pick up another bat to hit cleanup and actually make a difference. Byrd is a keeper for a team that needs his bat.

Robert P. – Sell Sell Sell!!! Byrd has been great and was a great get by Sandy Alderson, but he’s got too many years on him to be part of the organization’s long term plans. Cash in while his value is high.

Connor – It all depends on the return. If they can get a top prospect for him, they should trade him. If not, it’s better to have the veteran leadership around the clubhouse than it is to have a C+ prospect.

* * * * * * * *

We have a cross-section that leans toward trading him under the right circumstances here. But the thing of it is, the Mets want to be blown away and I can’t blame them. I think Byrd has more value to the team in 2014 than anything another team will likely offer them.

Then there’s the thing Sandy Alderson probably fears most… Perception. He keeps talking about living and dying with each win and loss this season, and how the time for losing is at an end, right? How will it look if he trades one of his two most productive players this season?

This isn’t 2011 anymore and things change. If he hung onto Scott Hairston last season when it was more prudent to trade him and sell high, why would he trade Byrd now and give fans the perception that after three years this team is still selling? That 2014 will be another punted season? That four years in and we’re still willing to trade established players for prospects who are 2-3 years away? What does that say about the plan?