"Trading season is here, and the Mets are working to sell at least three relievers.

According to two major league sources familiar with the Mets' thinking, Sandy Alderson and his staff have made clear to other teams that they are shopping closer Francisco Rodriguez (no surprise, given the expensive vesting option in his contract), setup man Jason Isringhausen and lefthanded specialist Tim Byrdak.

"They are really trying to move Isringhausen, and also Byrdak and K-Rod (before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline)," one of the sources said. "Those guys have pitched well, and they could help somebody."

The Mets are enjoying a respectable season, all the more impressive given the losses of Johan Santana, David Wright, Ike Davis, Chris Young, Taylor Buchholz and others due to injury. Still, their behind-the-scenes attempts at trading indicate an awareness that wild-card contention is highly unlikely in a division that includes Philadelphia and Atlanta.

Their actions do not yet show a waving of the proverbial white flag (that would be achieved by trading Carlos Beltran and severely diminishing the lineup), and they could trade a reliever or two and still claim to be serious about this year. But indications do point to a July spent selling, and building a stronger organization for the future."