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...for the stretch run (assuming he'd sign off on the trade).  Cost?  Our blocked AA second baseman, apparently.  Oh, AND we get a chunk of change.
http://espn.go.com/blog/SweetSpot/post/_/id/11381/five-trades-that-need-...
Mets trade Carlos Beltran and $5 million to the Mariners for 2B Kyle Seager.
Considering genius Fred Wilpon just torpeded Beltran's value by suggesting he's not close to the player he used to be, the Mets can't expect a top prospect in return for their right fielder, a free agent after the season. Plus, his $18.5 million contract is a problem for most teams. The Mariners' current hot streak (granted, it's come against the punchless Twins and Padres) suddenly put them in the thick of the AL West race despite their offensive struggles. Designated hitter Jack Cust just hit his first home run and Carlos Peguero and Mike Wilson are hardly the short-term (or long-term) solutions in left field. Beltran could play left and DH, and Seattle has the ability to pick up some additional payroll. (Beltran would have to waive his no-trade clause.)
Seager was a teammate of Dustin Ackley's at North Carolina, but with Ackley set as Seattle's second baseman of the future, he doesn't have a spot. After hitting .345 with 40 doubles and 14 home runs in the California League, he's proving himself in the tough transition to Double-A, hitting .302/.371/.477. He has a nice line-drive stroke, although there are some doubts about his range. Then again, this is a team playing Daniel Murphy at second base.
.900 OPS outfielder for a blocked player? If we wanted to "go for it" this year, there are far worse players to add than Beltran, who has name cache to bring fans and inspire players, to go with tremendous performance in every year but last year.  Also, he's a switch-hitter so Safeco wouldn't hurt him. 
We can't offer him arb per his contract (so no picks for him in FA to offset the prospect(s) going out for him) but Beltran is a terrific player and a good-fielding LF even if he is no longer a CF.  That solves Taro's problem with putting a poor fielder in left as well.
So:  who would take a Carlos-Beltran-for-Kyle-Seager trade to make a run this year?  He's instantly the second best hitter on the team...if not the best.
It blocks Peguero/Wilson in LF, but there's room DH if we decide not to go with Cust for the 2nd half.
Just curious.  I think Seager is becoming a more valuable chip every day and that the Twins would want some pitching (Wilhelmsen?) but it's hard to argue with spending one decent piece that will likely never play for you in return for 4 months of a serious pennant chase.
He's not exactly Ben Broussard...but is he the guy you want?
~G