"Imperfect circumstances call for creative solutions, and in recent weeks the Mets have kicked around many ideas for 2012. In that spirit, a well-placed front office source said it is "a possibility" that the Mets will move Jason Bay to center field next year.

That remains far from likely, the source said, but its consideration is interesting in what it reveals about the Mets' view of three players: Bay, Daniel Murphy and Angel Pagan.

Bay, signed to a four-year, $66 million contract before last season, has not displayed the power he once wielded in Pittsburgh and Boston. He was 0-for-4 in the Mets' 6-0 loss to Florida Tuesday night at Citi Field.

But teammates and management continue to be impressed by Bay's leadership and positive clubhouse presence, and the Mets are searching for a way to make his career here work (although they will also likely try to gauge his trade value this winter).

As a second team official observed, moving Bay to center would remove the onus to be a slugging outfielder. A center fielder who hits 12-15 homers, runs the bases well and posts a respectable on-base percentage is more acceptable than a corner outfielder who offers that production.

As for Bay's defense, advanced metrics and scouts agree that he is a good left fielder - but the scouts say that center could be challenging for him. One metric, defensive runs saved, rates Bay as the National League's third-best left fielder, with two runs saved (Arizona's Gerardo Parra and St. Louis' Matt Holliday are ahead of him)."