I'll take a break from other obligations (mounds of assignments; dead week my ass) to help break a little news.

If you've been paying attention, you probably already know that the Mets opened up the Hot Stove League this week by signing Francisco Rodriguez, the holder of the most overrated single-season record in baseball, to a three-year, $37 million contract.

Tonight, though, they took step two in fixing the bullpen by acquiring Mariners closer J.J. Putz in a three-team trade.

Here's the breakdown:

Mets get Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed, and reliever Sean Green (no relation to the Hebrew Hammer)
Mariners get Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, and prospect Mike Carp, along with other nameless, faceless Mets prospects and outfielder Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians
Indians get second baseman Luis Valbuena from Seattle (I assume, since I have no idea who he is) as well as Joe Smith from the Mets (and the Witness Protection Agency)

EDIT: Now with analysis! Such as it is.

I'm happy with the trade. Putz (when healthy) is an All-Star, and simply by bringing in K-Rod and Putz, Omar Minaya has already made the Mets bullpen leaps and bounds better than it was last season.

Trading Heilman away is addition by subtraction -- he no longer fits, and there's just no way that he could ever be an effective pitcher in New York again after the way fans have become accustomed to treating him (i.e. blaming every loss on him, ignoring his rare good appearances, showering him with boos). I always kind of liked him, though, and in a weird way, I'll miss him. I always hoped he would turn it around. I'll be rooting for Heilman's success in Seattle.

Endy Chavez, though I love him and I will never forget The Catch, is overrated. He's a fourth outfielder at best, and he can't hit his way out of a wet paper sack. It would have been nice to do this deal without him, but them's the breaks.

Mike Carp, we barely knew ye. Adios.

The only person in the trade I don't like to see the Mets lose is Joe Smith. For parts of last year, he was the only person in the bullpen who was even remotely servicable. He could end up good, he could flame out in a year. But I liked him too. Again, would have been nice to keep him, but stuff happens.

Now, onto the new Mets. Obviously J.J. Putz is the highlight of the package. He's been an All-Star, and he has a nasty splitter. He's also been hurt -- namely, most of last season. This is a big part of the reason he's a set-up closer now, instead of a closer. Hopefully his injuries are all better (the trade depends on physicals being passed) and he won't spend another year on the disabled list.

I know very little of Jeremy Reed and Sean Green. Reed was the Mariners' fourth outfielder, which doesn't say much for him. If he can hit, he'll be a servicable replacement for Chavez. If not, he'll be Endy Part 2, but without the cool name and the speed and ability to bunt. Unless he has those things; he played for the Mariners, so nobody knows. Green is a middle reliever. Statistically, it doesn't look like he sucked last year. Of course, statistically it doesn't look like Pedro Feliciano sucked either. So it's tough to tell. If these guys can contribute somewhat, they will be worth their weight in low-grade aluminum.

This must not be the end, though. This team needs more bullpen help (Joe Beimel? Juan Cruz? Bueller?) and some starting pitching, especially if Oliver Perez leaves and especially if Derek Lowe ends up in Philly. Omar, you're still On Notice.