The Mets were debating Wednesday whether to trade Bobby Parnell to an unspecified team for a starting position player, a major league source said.

Mets officials were weighing the merits of the deal and there was no assurance they would pull the trigger.

While the acquisition of three back-end relievers during the winter meetings makes a deal possible, the 27-year-old Parnell is under the Mets' control for four more seasons and will make close to the major league minimum in 2012, also making him attractive to retain. Longer-term Mets officials recall how the Mets once traded Matt Lindstrom, who also topped 100 mph, and now have nothing to show for it.

Parnell, despite his age, could be a late bloomer in part because he only picked up pitching in college at Charleston Southern.