Apparently Mike Francesa asserted yesterday that Angel Pagan “sulked” about moving to right field after Carlos Beltran returned in July.

This came as news to me, and, apparently, many others around the Internet. I didn’t listen to the show, but I’d guess Francesa cited vague “sources” (sawces?) and/or conflated Pagan with Jeff Francoeur, who came out and announced that he wouldn’t sulk about moving into a reserve role, then pretty much did. Or perhaps it was Francesa himself sulking when Beltran returned.

My understanding is that Beltran is something of a mentor and hero to Pagan. David Waldstein reported in July that “Pagan practically worships Beltran and says it is an honor to play alongside him every day.” Doesn’t really sound like sulking.

And when Beltran holds a fundraiser for the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico on Saturday, Pagan will be in attendance (along with Jose Reyes and Sandy Alderson).

About that, briefly: According to the press release, Beltran donated $2 million to help fund the academy, which will open Aug. 1 on a 19-acre campus in the town of Florida, Puerto Rico.

The school aims to prepare its 120 high-school aged students for college as well as for the Major Leagues, and will feature “state-of-the-art housing facilities supervised at all times, a computer center, WiFi technology, language laboratories emphasizing English, an interactive library, among others. The multi-use recreational and athletic facilities will house baseball fields, indoor batting cages, pitching mounds, dugouts, gymnasium, swimming pool, running track, locker room, among other; all in an eco-friendly environment.”

Anyway, apparently Francesa endorsed trading Pagan because of the sulking and because his value is currently high. The latter part is true; Pagan has never appeared more valuable than he does now, under team control via arbitration through 2012 and coming off a season and a half of excellent play in the Mets’ outfield.

I love watching Pagan play so I’d prefer he go nowhere. And since I’m not certain Beltran will ever again be able to expertly cover Citi Field’s vast expanses like Pagan can, and the Mets don’t have a Major League ready young center fielder who can, it seems like it would be difficult for the Mets to get a return on Pagan that would offer as much value to the club.

Of course they should listen, because, as mentioned, Pagan’s value is high and the Mets have plenty of needs. If some GM wants to come blow them away with a package of prospects or an excellent young pitcher locked down for four years or something like that, then, you know, great.

But I’m not sure either is likely to happen, so I’m looking forward to seeing Pagan back in a Mets uniform (and hopefully in center field) in 2011.