The Indians, much like the Blue Jays in a deal for Roy Halladay, are looking for Major League talent to help them contend in 2010.

Lee, who will be 31 years old in August, is just 7-9 but has a 3.14 ERA with just 33 walks and 107 strikeouts in 152 innings.

Lee is 4–6 with a 2.92 ERA in 16 starts for the Indians, during which he has 79 strike outs and 26 walks in 111 innings.

According to Stark, however, the Indians have said they would need to be overwhelmed to move Lee.

…i.e., Bobby Parnell, Fernando Martinez, and so on, and so on… you know the drill…

Lee won the American League Cy Young Award last season, and is eligible to be a free agent at the end of next season.

…i get the impression Omar Minaya intends to make at least one or two deals, and has earmarked certain players, who other teams have interest in, for a deal, and it’s basically a matter of getting biggest bang for his buck… i believe they’ll take on salary, but also wouldn’t mind trading some away in a separate deal…

Stark also says the Mets have looked in to Rockies 1B-3B Garret Atkins, who hit .293 in 1,200 at bats the previous two seasons, but who his batting just .216 in 61 games this season.

He is hitting just .254 in games away from Coors Field in his career, however he’s hit as more home runs away, 48, as he’s hit at home, 47.

…atkins would be an interesting hitter for Citi Field, because he’s disciplined and puts the ball in play… he’d be an interesting play, in that he’d cost the Mets very little, i believe… also, he’s turning the corner in his season, from what i can gather… people in colorado say he looks like the hitter of old, compared to his at bats from April and May…

Nevertheless, Stark writes, “From a pure baseball fit, the Mets appear to rank Aubrey Huff and Nick Johnson ahead of Atkins.”

Atkins will earn $7 million this season; he is again eligible for arbitration next season, after which he is a free agent.

Stark also writes about the Phillies struggles at home; as well as the on-fire Rockies; the Angels bullpen; Jimmy Rollins’s season-long slump; Scott Kazmir and Tampa’s pitching; Chicago’s interest in Mark DeRosa; the future of Manny Acta; the demands of Pedro Martinez, who is still seeking a the prorated equiviliant of $5 million; and other topics from around MLB.

However, Sherman sees Nationals 1B Nick Johnson, O’s 1B Aubrey Huff and Indians infielder Mark DeRosa as the most likely players to be acquired by the Mets if Omar Minaya looks to make a trade.

Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes the Indians are not looking to trade RHP Cliff Lee or C-1B Victor Martinez.

However, according to Rosenthal, “They would gauge interest only if they fell completely out of contention.”

Rosenthal believes the Indians will want an elite pitching prospect, like Braves RHP Tommy Hanson, as the centerpiece of a trade for either Lee or Martinez.

…man, martinez would be a great fit…  i’m guessing he would cost the top package, i.e., Fernando Martinez and Jon Niese, if not more…

The 30–year-old, switch-hitting Martinez is batting .401 in 39 games for the Indians this season, with seven home runs, 12 doubles and 26 RBI.

He has played 19 games at first base this season, 21 at catcher.

Martinez, who will $5.7 million this season, has a $7 million option in his contract for in 2010, after which he is eligible for free agency.

…there had been some buzz during the Winter Meetings that suggested such a trade like this could help facilitate a deal between the Indians and Pirates for, what i assume would be, Jason Bay, since there were other rumors linking him to pittsburgh in excahnge for Indians LHP Cliff Lee…

..earlier in the off-season, during the GM Meetings in Orlando, Mets GM Omar Minaya had lunch with Indians GM Mark Shapirio, which fueled speculation that the Mets could be targeting lee…

Nevertheless, according to Peter Gammons, in recent a post to his blog for ESPN.com, wrote that trading Lastings Milledge probably ended Minaya’s chances of acquiring Lee, who the Indians will listen to proposals for, ‘but won’t trade unless they get overwhelmed.’

…from what i understand, there is also a bit of talk that bay could be moved to the Blue Jays, for, i’m guessing, AJ Burnett, which is the only player who would make sense…

Earlier today, at his blog for ESPN.com, Peter Gammons wrote that by trading Lastings Milledge, the Mets ended any chance of acquiring Lee, who the Indians will listen to proposals for, ‘but won’t trade him unless they get overwhelmed.’

When asked why the Mets are no longer talking about Johan Santana, Gammons told ESPN News, “They have no players.”

…thanks to Peter Wade, MetsBlog’s eyes and ears, for the info…

Gammons also says that trading Lastings Milledge probably ended the Omar Minaya’s chances of acquiring Indians LHP Cliff Lee, who the Indians will listen to proposals for, ‘but won’t trade him unless they get overwhelmed.’

“We’re always looking for a frontline starter, and that’s difficult to do…Teams aren’t willing to give them up unless you really blow them away and give them a lot of players.”

Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi recently told ESPN.com that he is willing to entertain trade offers for RHP A.J. Burnett, who may opt out of his contract with Toronto after next season.

In his nine-year career, the frequently-injured Burnett has started at least 30 games in a season just once.  Yet, in 177 career starts, he is 69–66 with a 3.76 ERA, having struck out nearly one batter per inning.

…i could see the Mets being interested…burnett will likely cost a pitcher in return, but as long as the jays are freed of his money i am not sure the price in talent will be all that much…

Burnett, 30, will earn $12 million this coming season, but has o-trade protection against 15 teams.  

Meanwhile, according to Mark Hale in the New York Post, the Mets have talked to the Devil Rays during the GM Meetings, but not about LHP Scott Kazmir.

…my guess is on talks involving either Dan Wheeler, Al Reyes or Edwin Jackson…jackson is 24, a fallen prospect with a quick arm and arbitration eligible this off season…while wheeler and reyers are two relief pitchers who were of interest to many teams, including the Mets, during last year’s trade deadline…

Meanwhile, in Newsday, Ken Davidoff reports that Minaya had dinner last night with Indians GM Mark Shapiro. 

According to Davidoff, citing ‘a person familiar with the team’s thinking,’ Minaya and Shapiro intended to speak about potential matches in a deal for pitching.

Davidoff rules out the Mets acquiring C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona or Jake Westbrook, meaning a likely option could be LHP Cliff Lee.

Lee, 29, will earn $3.75 million next year and $5.75 million in 2009.  His team will hold an $8 million option for 2010.

Last season, Lee got bumped from Cleveland’s starting rotation, then was demoted to Triple-A after starting the season 5–8 with a 6.38 ERA.  However, he won 14, 18 and 14 games in each of the previous three seasons, while compiling a 4.50 ERA.