I loved this column from Bob Klapisch of The Record, where he sums up the sentiments and feelings of Carlos Beltran’s final moments at Citi Field in a Mets uniform.

If anyone imagined an emotional send-off for Beltran, this wasn’t even close: The ovation from the Citi Field crowd was polite, but uninspired, lasting only a few seconds as Beltran disappeared into the dugout. Everyone was too hot, too miserable, too lethargic watching the Mets sleepwalk through a 6-2 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.

Besides, how many Mets fans ever felt strongly enough about Beltran to get worked up now – on his way to the Braves, Phillies or Red Sox in the next 10 days? Beltran was respected in New York but never loved, never truly forgiven for looking at strike three in Game 7 of the 2006 NL Championship Series.

Pity, too: Beltran will leave town as the franchise’s most under-appreciated superstar, even though the combination of offense and defense in his Met prime arguably was better than Darryl Strawberry’s, David Wright’s and even Mike Piazza’s.

It was also nice to hear that Beltran would entertain the possibility of returning to the Mets next season if the Mets decide to bring him back. It was the Mets themselves that posed the possibility to his agent Scott Boras. David Waldstein of the New York Times, explains:

Although the team is intent on trading Beltran, who is in the final year of his contract, before the July 31 non waiver trade deadline, they are also considering the possibility of trying to sign him again as a free agent after the season.

According to two people in baseball familiar with the situation, the team contacted Scott Boras, Beltran’s agent, and asked if he would be amenable to that notion. They were informed that Beltran would be willing to consider the idea of re-signing with the Mets in the off-season, even if he is traded in the coming days.

Nothing would make me happier than to have Beltran back in the fold in 2012. Obviously he would be compensated accordingly and the deal would probably only include two guaranteed years at most, but how incredible would that be?

Trading Beltran for a couple of legit prospects, and then having him back at a discounted cost on top of that. Give GM Sandy Alderson the “Executive of the Year” award if that happens.