Obviously it depends on who you’re getting back — no need to trade a guy who can help the team win games this year for Single-A roster filler. But yeah, I’d say if the Mets could get anybody that might contribute to a future club, they should be willing to deal Jason Isringhausen or Tim Byrdak — even given the current state of their bullpen.

Right now they’re still an extreme longshot to make the playoffs, even as good as they’ve looked lately. If they can get something of value in return for a reliever in his late 30s (who hasn’t even been exceptional), they might as well. If the Mets were sitting in the Wild Card spot and Isringhausen were dominating opponents every night, I might be less certain.

But as it is, they’re still 6.5 games out with a ton of other teams in the mix, and neither pitcher has been irreplaceable. Justin Hampson has dominated lefties in Triple-A and could probably effectively fill Byrdak’s role. Isringhausen would be tougher to replace, but he can’t pitch every day and presents a perpetual injury risk.

I’m not willing to assume that, for a variety of reasons. More on “buyers” and “sellers” here.

I think it would be incredibly foolish for the Mets to mortgage any part of their future in an attempt to make a run in 2011. They’re too far from contention. If they want to hold onto their cards and keep playing for the Wild Card hoping that David Wright and maybe Ike Davis or Johan Santana come back and make an impact, or make a couple of deals that better the club in the short- and long-term, that’s one thing. But if you’re talking about going all in on behalf of this season, trading prospects to try to make a run — no way.

As for the question: I’d still say the Mets need starting pitching most of all. The guys in the rotation have done a fine job, but one more strong arm could push a starter into the bullpen, strengthening the whole staff. But any of the rumored-available starting pitchers better than the ones they have are going to cost a lot, and the last thing the Mets need to do right now is gut the farm system.

I’d like to have my own TV show. I haven’t really figured out the format, but probably a variety show of sorts. I know you might not think it’d be that awesome based on the goofy web videos we do here, but trust me, it would be. Just waiting for the right sucker to hand me the reins. Speaking of: If you’re a big-time TV studio exec, email me. We can make this happen.

Oh, and if that doesn’t sound like “realistically speaking,” consider that I currently have a job that pays me a living wage to — among other things — cover the baseball team I grew up loving, troll newspaper columnists, review sandwiches and weigh in on just about any topic I want. Hard to imagine anything much better than this.