Mets Shopping Jonathon Niese, Ike Davis?

Reports out of Dallas say the Mets are shopping Jonathon Niese, and to a lesser extent, Ike Davis. I have one question — why?

The Mets are apparently looking for several major league-ready players for Niese, including a pitcher and perhaps a catcher, outfielder or infielder. The New York Post reports several teams including the Yankees have inquired.

As far as Davis, the Beaver County Times reports that the Mets asked the Pirates for two top prospects. But SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt reports that his sources are telling him that Davis “isn’t going anywhere.”

I cannot fathom why the Mets would trade either of these guys. Davis has star potential, the kind of young player you build around, not send away. I don’t think Niese is ever going to be a Cy Young winner, but he is already a solid middle-of-the-rotation guy who is only going to get better as he enters his prime.

Of course, there are always things we don’t know about. Perhaps Davis’s ankle injury is the type that will hamper him throughout his career. Perhaps the Mets think Niese has hit his ceiling and will not progress any further.

The farm system is stocked with pitchers, but most of them won’t be ready until 2014. It seems premature to trade Niese in anticipation of the young guys taking his place.

Several teams have also asked about Mike Pelfrey, but Sandy Alderson was apparently not happy with the offers. I think a bag of infield dirt should get it done. Oh, and the Mets shopped Jason Bay. No one wants him. Shock of shocks.