Newsday: Mets looking closer at ‘pen help through trade

The Rockies’ Brian Fuentes and the Pirates’ Damaso Marte would be good insurance policies, but one name that seems to have dropped off the Mets’ radar is the A’s Huston Street, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The other two, however, will be costly in terms of talent, with other teams asking for their top prospects at Double-A Binghamton: Jonathon Niese, Eddie Kunz and Daniel Murphy.

“I think most managers love to know that when you get a lead it’s not coming back,” Jerry Manuel said. “Anybody that can shorten the game for you is a great advantage.”

If Church gets cleared for more baseball activity Thursday, the Mets will breathe a sigh of relief, even though it could be another week before he is ready to return. That lessens the urgency some, with Fernando Tatis and Endy Chavez capable fill-ins. But the Mets have kept their sights on Raul Ibanez and Casey Blake while dropping back in the pursuit of Xavier Nady.