With many teams desperate for his services, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik parlayed that demand by helping facilitate a three-team trade that sent Putz and teammates Sean Green and Jeremy Reed to the New York Mets and utility infielder Luis Valbuena to the Cleveland Indians as part of a 12-player trade that left the media area of the Bellagio Resort buzzing late Wednesday.

Officially, the Mariners send Putz, Green and Reed to the Mets, the Mets will in turn send six players to Seattle: reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez, minor league first baseman Mike Carp, minor league outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and minor league pitchers Jason Vargas and Maikel Cleto. The Indians will send outfielder Franklin Gutierrez to the Mariners for Valbuena, while also picking up reliever Joe Smith.

"It's difficult to give up a J.J. Putz, that is not an easy thing to do," Zduriencik said. "This guy two and three years ago was one of the best in the league. I do feel a little bad that we couldn't keep J.J. here."

Putz is also feeling bad, leaving a team he has spent his whole professional career with.

"Shoot, that was home for us for six years," Putz said from his home in Phoenix. "My wife is taking it harder than I am. She has lots of friends there. A lot of people don't realize that something like this is harder on wives than the players. It will be fine."

Putz was selected in the sixth round of the 1999 draft by the Mariners out of the University of Michigan. He made his major league debut in 2003, pitching three games that season, then appeared in 118 games over the next two seasons. After serving as the set-up man for Eddie Guardado, Putz assumed the closing duties in 2006, saving 36 games. But 2007 was his best season, when he notched 40 saves, earned an All-Star berth and picked up the Rolaids A.L. reliever of the year award. In 2008, he struggled due to injuries, starting with a strained rib cage in the first game of the season. He also had issues with a blister on his finger, a sore knee and a tender elbow that kept him out of several games and never allowed him to get in much of a rhythm.

The trade didn't catch Putz completely by surprise, but he had a glimmer of hope that he might stay.

"I had heard rumblings about being traded, but there were so many rumblings last couple of days and nothing happened, I didn't think anything was going to happen," he said. "I wasn't surprised it was to the Mets because my agent had called and told me he had heard about them wanting me."

However, the three-team trade was new and unexpected based on reports early in the week at the Baseball winter meetings. While both the Mets and Indians showed preliminary interest in Putz, it was figured that both teams were done making moves in regards to relievers since the Mets inked free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez to a three-year, $37.5 million dollar contract on Tuesday. And the Indians were on the verge of signing closer Kerry Wood to a three-year, $30 million deal pending a successful physical.

But Putz wasn't brought into New York to be the closer, instead he'll be the set-up man for Rodriguez. After being one of the top closers in Baseball, including the American League reliever of the year in 2007, Putz wasn't thrilled with the news.

"It's not the ideal situation, but having the two of us at the back of the bullpen will be pretty strong," Putz said. "I will not change my approach at all. I will close the game in the eighth and give the ball to Frankie. The Mets organization is built to win right now and that's new for me."

And the "win now" mentality is readily apparent for the Mets, whose bullpen implosions basically crushed their playoff hopes a year ago. General manager Omar Minaya added the two top closers from the American League West in two days.

"As far as Mets fans are concerned, all I heard on the streets of New York when I would go get bagels in the morning was 'Omar, please address the bullpen,'" Minaya said. "Well, we addressed the bullpen."

And Zdruiencik saidt he addressed what he needed to address on a team that lost 101 games a year ago.

"What our goals were try to upgrade our talent level, upgrade our ballclub immediately and longterm and in doing this with acquiring this many players, we feel we've taken a step in the right direction," Zduriencik said.

Gutierrez was the kicker in the trade. Zduriencik and Minaya had had talks in the weeks leading up, but Zduriencik was adamant about obtaining a center fielder.

"It might not have been a trade if I had not gotten a center fielder," Zduriencik said.

Instead, he gets two. Gutierrez, 25, hit .248 with Cleveland in 24 games with 26 doubles, eight homers and 41 RBI. But he's been stuck behind perennial all-star center fielder Grady Sizemore.

"Franklin Gutierrez is a center fielder by nature and were going to give him an opportunity to come to our ball club and play center field," Zduriencik said.

Chavez is also a center fielder by nature, but has played all three outfield positions, including a left field spot vacated by Raul Ibanez.

"That's a pretty good defensive outfield," Zduriencik said.

Heilman is a big, strong pitcher and 6-5, 250 pounds. He started early in his career, but was moved to relieving. He made 78 appearances last season and finished with a 3-8 record and 5.21 ERA, but he still has lobbied to be a starter.

Zduriencik didn't know what Heilman's role would be at the moment.

The Mariners lose three other familiar players in Green, Reed and Valbuena.

Green, a sinkerball specialist, was highly effective out of the bullpen the last two seasons and showed an ability to pitch often.

Reed, who was acquired from the White Sox in the Freddy Garcia trade, was supposed to be the center fielder of the future earning the opening day starting job in 2005, but he never found the consistency to stay.

Valbuena showed some strong defensive ability at second base this season and can play short if needed, his bat showed potential and Zduriencik didn't like giving him up.

"If you want to acquire talent, and this case the quantity of it, you have to give up players," Zduriencik said.

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Three-way deal

Mariners closer J.J. Putz was the centerpiece of a three-team trade Wednesday at Baseball's winter meetings. Here is what each team gets:

Mets

Closer J.J. Putz (from Mariners)

The best reliever in the American League in 2007 and a fan favorite.

Outfielder Jeremy Reed (from Mariners)

Acquired in trade for Freddy Garcia, never quite reached his potential.

Pitcher Sean Green (from Mariners)

A reliable reliever who led the Mariners in appearances in 2008, eighth in the AL.

Mariners

Outfielder Franklin Gutierrez (from Indians)

Blocked by Grady Sizemore in Cleveland, he was the key to the deal

Pitcher Aaron Heilman (from Mets)

One-time starter turned into a reliever, finished with 4.59 ERA.

Outfielder Endy Chavez (from Mets)

Versatile outfielder who can play all three spots and has strong arm.

Outfielder Ezequiel Carrera (from Mets)

Speedy center fielder led the Florida State League with 28 steals.

Pitcher Maikel Cleto (from Mets)

Only 19, he was 5-11 with a 4.25 ERA; his fastball can reach 98 mph.

Pitcher Jason Vargas (from Mets)

Once second-round pick by Marlins, missed all of 2008 after hip surgery.

First baseman Mike Carp (from Mets)

Just 22, he hit 17 home runs and drove in 72 runs for Double-A Binghamton.

Indians

Pitcher Joe Smith (from Mets)

Sinker-ball pitching reliever appeared in 82 games for the Mets.

Infielder Luis Valbuena (from Mariners)

A fine infield prospect who can play shortstop or second base.

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Ryan Divish, The News Tribune