Here's some info on them, click on their names for career stats from baseball-reference.com

Franklin Gutierrez, outfielder, 25, hit .248 with 26 doubles, 2 triples, 8 home runs and 41 RBI in a career-high 134 games with Cleveland last season. He appeared in 119 games in the outfield, making 104 starts (8 in left, 11 in center and 85 in right). Gutierrez has appeared in the Majors in each of the past four seasons, and is a career .258 hitter with 48 doubles, 4 triples and 22 home runs in 284 career games.

Aaron Heilman, right-handed pitcher, 29, was 3-8, 5.21 with 3 saves in 78 games with the Mets in 2008. In the heat of the pennant race in the NL East, he was unscored upon in 16 of his final 19 appearances. His 78 games were seventh-most in the NL and his 76.0 innings were 12th. He limited right-handed hitters to a .222 mark (38x171) and American League batters managed just a .190 mark (4x21). Last season was the first time his ERA had been above 3.62 since the 2004 season.

Heilman has appeared in 70 plus games in each of the past three seasons (74 in 2006, 81 in 2007 and 78 in 2008) and is third in the National League with 69 holds since 2005. He was the Mets first round pick (#18 overall) in the 2001 June Draft after posting a 15-0 mark in 15 starts his senior year at Notre Dame.

Endy Chavez, outfielder, 30, made 56 outfield starts with the Mets in 2008 (41 in right, 13 in left and a pair in center) and tied for second on the club with 7 outfield assists. He hit .267 last season, including a .313 mark (50x160) from June 11 to the end of the season. The nine-year Major League veteran has played with five clubs: Kansas City (2001), Montreal (2002-04), Washington (2005), Philadelphia (2005) and the Mets (2006-08). He is a career .270 hitter with 98 doubles, 28 triples and 17 home runs in 773 big league games.

Jason Vargas, left-handed pitcher, 24, missed all of the 2008 season after having surgery on his left hip. He was traded to the Mets from the Florida Marlins on Nov. 20, 2006 and spent the majority 2007 season with New Orleans (AAA), going 9-7 with a 4.97 ERA (69 ER, 125.0 IP) in 24 starts. He also made two starts with the Mets that season, going 0-1 with a 12.19 ERA (14 ER, 10.1 IP). In three Major League seasons combined between the Marlins and Mets, Vargas is 6-8 with a 5.81 ERA (82 ER, 127.0 IP) in 31 games, 20 starts. He was originally drafted by the Marlins out of Long Beach State in the 2nd round (68th overall) of the 2004 June Draft.

Mike Carp, first baseman, 22, hit .299 (143x478) with 67 runs scored, 29 doubles, 1 triple, 17 home runs and 72 RBI in 134 games with Double-A Binghamton in 2008. The left-handed hitter set career-highs in nearly every offensive category, including in average, on base percentage, doubles, home runs, and walks. Carp led the Eastern League in walks (79), while finishing 4th in on-base percentage (.403) and games played (134). He recorded a season-high 14-game hit streak, batting .483 (28x 58) with 13 runs scored, 5 doubles, 4 home runs and 13 RBI from April 4-21. He was the starting first baseman in the 2008 Eastern League All-Star game, named to the Eastern League Post Season All-Star team and named Eastern League Player of the Week, April 3-13. Carp was originally selected by the Mets in the 5th round of the 2004 First-Year Player draft.

Maikel Cleto, right-handed pitcher, 19, spent the majority of the 2008 season with Savannah (A), posting a 5-11 record with a 4.25 ERA in 25 games including 22 starts before earning a late season promotion for one start at St. Lucie (A). He went 2-4, with a 3.58 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 75.1 innings in 14 appearances prior to the All-Star break. Baseball America rated Cleto as having the “best fastball” in the South Atlantic League last season.

Ezequiel Carrera, outfielder, 21, is a left-handed hitting centerfielder that is currently playing in the Venezuelan Winter League with the Navegantes del Magallanes. He spent the 2008 season with St. Lucie (A) where he served as the primary leadoff hitter and ranked fourth in the Florida State League with 28 stolen bases. He batted .263 (113x430) with 61 runs, 11 doubles, 12 triples, 7 home runs, 29 RBI and 44 walks. Carrera was named the “best defensive outfielder” in the Florida State League this past season by Baseball America.

The players traded by the Mariners:

To the Mets, J.J. Putz, right-handed pitcher, 31, had spent his entire career with Seattle after being their 6th round selection in the 1999 June Draft. As a Mariner, he recorded 101 saves, second most in franchise history behind Kazuhiro Sasaki. He was the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year winner in 2007 when he recorded 40 saves with a 1.38 ERA. In 2008, he made two trips to the disabled list with mild costochondritis on his right side (April 2-22) and with a hyper-extended right elbow (June 12-July 20).

To the Mets, Sean Green, right-handed pitcher, 29, set career-highs in appearances (72) and innings pitched (79.0) this past season. Amongst American League relievers, he was tied for eighth in appearances and fourth in innings pitched. He was 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA (16 ER, 54.0 IP) in his first 49 games of the season from March 31 thru July 20.

To the Mets, Jeremy Reed, outfielder, 27, began the season in Triple-A Tacoma before being recalled on May 19. He made 72 starts including 52 in center field. He was originally acquired from the Chicago White Sox in 2004 as part of a deal for Freddy Garcia.

To the Mets, then the Indians, Luis Valbuena, infielder, 23, made his Major League debut with Seattle this past season after being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on September 1st. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2002. He split the 2008 season with Double-A West Tennessee and Tacoma where he hit a combined .303 with 84 runs scored, 21 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 60 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

Look, I know everybody has questions and opinions on the trade. And we'll follow up with that. But first let's take a moment to thank J.J. The guy was a class act, a true professional and always fair, honest and friendly to me. It will be strange entering a Mariners clubhouse without him.

More than that, he was good at what he did. I know this last season wasn't great, but I really think he'll have a strong season this year - unfortunately it will be with the Mets.

Here's some of his comments after hearing about the trade.

I wasn't surprised it was to the Mets because my agent had called and told me he had heard about them wanting me.

It's not the ideal situation, but having the two of us at the back of the bullpen will be pretty strong. I will not change my approach at all. I will close the game in the eighth and give the ball to Frankie. The Mets organization is built to win right now and that’s new for me. We will have a very strong ballclub.


It will be tough leaving Seattle. Shoot, that was home for us for six years. My wife is taking it harder than I am. She has lots of friends there. A lot of people don't realize that something like this is harder on wives than the players. It will be fine.

It’s always tough to leave Seattle. It's a great city, great fans. I’ve got nothing but great things to say about it. I had a great six years there.

The official deal...

Mariners get:
Aaron Heilman - big league reliever, one time starter.
Endy Chavez - versatile outfielder
Maikel Cleto - minor league pitcher
Ezequiel Carrera - minor league center fielder
Jason Vargas - minor league pitcher with ML experience.
Mike Carp - minor league first baseman
Franklin Gutierrez (from Indians) - outfielder with speed and defense

Mets get:
J.J. Putz
Jeremy Reed
Sean Green

Indians get:
Joe Smth
Luis Valbuena
Joe Smith

As of about 9 p.m. local time, the deal was confirmed that the Mariners would send Putz, Reed and Green to the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena to the Indians. The Mets would then ship first baseman Mike Carp, outfielder Endy Chavez, reliever Aaron Heilman, minor league pitchers Jason Vargas, Maikal Cleto and Ezequiel Carrera to the Mariners and then send reliever Joe Smith to the Indians. The Indians would send outfielder Franklin Gutierrez to the Mariners.

the trade will be official in the coming minutes and we will have a meeting with Zduriencik at 9:30 p.m.

UPDATE (7:39) --- Foxsports Ken

Anyway, here's a more detailed report on a three-player trade with the Mariners, Mets and Indians from mlb.com.

Mariners get -- OF Franklin Gutierrez from Cleveland and Aaron Heilman from NY.

Indians get -- IF Luis Valbuena from the Mariners and reliever Joe Smith from the Mets.

Mets get --- Putz and Jeremy Reed

Just left our meeting with Mariners general manger Jack Zduriencik and it appears as though a deal for closer J.J. Putz could happen sometime in the coming days and possibly tonight.

When asked if a proposal on the table, Zduriencik said. "Yes, there is something to think about in detail."

When asked if a deal could happen on Thursday or even tonight, he said, "Very possible."

Now, the trick is figuring out who the deal could be with.

Basically it appears to come down to two teams .. the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Sources have said that the Mariners are looking for a 3-for-1 deal with Matt Joyce and Jeff Larish included, but a source close to the Tigers said, they are having reservations about giving up two young hitters. But Joyce could be off the table since he's reportedly being traded to the Devil Rays for Edwin Jackson.

That leaves the Cardinals, who have shopped outfielder Rick Ankiel around, a source said that the deal would ultimately be Ankiel and a minor league prospect for Putz. But it looks as though the Cardinals are completely focused on getting free agent Brian Fuentes even for a price tag of $10 million per year.

Just coming late from New York is the report of a possible three-way deal with the Mets and Indians where Putz would go to New York and bet set up man for Francisco Rodriguez.

Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal is reporting that another major league GM said that the Cardinals offered Rick Ankiel and a prospect for J.J. Putz.

This blog post from CBS sportsline makes it sound as though the Brewers won't be going after a free agent closer or any closer before the meetings end.

Also, it appears that we could be seeing Raul Ibanez a lot next season - in an Angels uniform. He's an option if some other things don't workout.

Just to give you a heads up, I'm going to be on KJR with Ian Furness at around 2:05 p.m. today to talk about some of the stuff that's going on with the Mariners.

you can go to www.kjram.com to listen to it. I'll post the mp3 of it afterward, providing I don't sound like too much of an idiot.

You can listen to the podcast of my interview HERE

I'm also gauging interest in a live chat on Thursday after the Rule V draft. So if you want one, let me know and we'll try to get one set up.

We just got back from the manager's luncheon and sat with Don Wakamatsu for the first time. It was the first time that a few of us had met him in person since we missed his hiring press conference. He seems like a good guy. And both he and I are of the same cultural background, being half Japanese. Does that give me an "in" with him? Probably not.

Good morning from Day 3 at the winter meetings, I still have the shirt on my back and I still have my laptop, though it wasn't working so well last night so I didn't get to post the update after the Zduriencik meeting.

But my story that ran in today's paper has most of what he said in it along with reactions from J.J. Putz and Brandon Morrow to all that's going on.

Also, if you didn't get a chance, check out Larry's story on a surprisingly talkative Erik Bedard. It's got some interesting comments from the quiet enigma of a pitcher. General manager Jack Zduriencik seems convinced that Bedard is going to have a big year, because he will be healthy and because he's in the walk year of his contract.

OK, let's get to more J.J. stuff, since he seems to be the only player being openly coveted by other teams

First of all, let's start with the Tigers. It's unclear how the talks are going. The report of the Mariners requesting three players - Jeff Larish, Matt Joyce and another minor leaguer - seems to be pretty solid. The Tigers are hesitating giving up both players and would give up one or the other.

Here's Jon Paul Morosi's story outlining the possibilities and here is Lynn Henning's column wondering if giving up both is just too much. The Detroit News has a story saying that set-up man Fernando Rodney could possibly be the closer (although that might give Jim Leyland heart palpitations) and it also has an update on Larish and Joyce's progress in winter ball.

Another team that could make a late push for Putz is the St. Louis Cardinals. Zduriencik met with them yesterday and their GM, John Mozeliak, made it very clear they are looking for a closer according to stories from Matt Leach and Joe Strauss.

I talked with a few sources close to the team and the Cardinals are looking for two things - a closer and a starter - and they know that they will have to give up an outfielder to get at least one, if not both. The most likely candidate to be traded is Rick Ankiel. On the surface it would seem crazy to trade Ankiel, but his contract is up next season and his agent is Scott Boras. Ankiel, who will make $900,000 this season, will be looking for a large pay raise.

The Cards feel like they could give up Ankiel because talented prospect Colby Rasmus is ready and would slide into his spot along with Ryan Ludwick and Skip Schumaker, who are under team control for a while still.

Ankiel is what the Mariners are looking for, a left-hander with power, and even better he could play center field, a position of weakness for the Mariners. He would be an upgrade both offensively and defensively over Jeremy Reed, and Seattle could go out and look for a left fielder and even resort to a platoon situation with Wlad Balentien and somebody else.

The other team reported to show interest was the Milwaukee Brewers. Zduriencik shot down a rumor from ESPN's Steve Phillips, who mentioned that Putz and first baseman Prince Fielder could be part of a package deal.

“Is that right?” Zduriencik smiling upon hearing that talk. “I wouldn’t comment on if I would make that deal. We haven’t talked about that. Honestly, there has not been a discussion about those two players related to each other.”

Milwaukee needs a closer. We already mentioned that enduring Eric Gagne and the emotional roller coaster last season wasn't desirable. With CC Sabathia set to sign with the Yankees, the Brewers can now focus on picking up a closer and now need starting pitching since Sabathia and probably Ben Sheets won't return.

The feeling is that Zduriencik would be quicker to trade with the Brewers because of his familiarity with the team. The Brewers have said that outfielder Corey Hart and shortstop J.J. Hardy aren't being shopped but that doesn't mean they aren't available. However, both are right-handed bats. And GM Doug Melvin said yesterday he didn't see any real matches.

Zduriencik could make a push for maybe some minor league prospects like third baseman Mat Gamel and a few others from the well-stocked farm system.

So what is going to happen?
Really Zduriencik is in a position of power. He can ask for quite a bit in return, because he isn't set on trading Putz. He'd keep him if he felt there wasn't enough out there. The Tigers have been known to overpay if they really feel like they have to fill a certain need.

The longer Zduriencik waits and the more teams he talks to about Putz, the more willing the Tigers may grow to throwing in both Joyce and Larish. A trade for Ankiel seems intriguing, but it is only worth it if you re-sign him next season. And that might cost more than $10 million a year. You can't trade away Putz for a player that you might only get for one season. And the Brewers, well, who knows how his previous relationship with the team will affect those chances, but they seem pretty far off now.

Zduriencik said there's no anxiety to get anything done over the next few days, so this could move on into the coming weeks.