PHOENIX -- Terry Collins said he would not bring up the issue with Sandy Alderson for permission until after Tuesday's trading deadline, since Alderson currently is consumed with pursuing deals. But Collins reiterated Friday that using R.A. Dickey on short rest sooner rather than later remains a strong consideration.

A team insider said team brass, as well as Dickey, would need to be on board with the plan for it to proceed.

The source added that using Dickey on short rest almost certainly would not occur until after this road trip, which still has stops in San Francisco and San Diego.

The Aug. 6 off-day after the West Coast trip would allow the rotation to be juggled and for Dickey to work on short rest while minimizing the disruption to other starters.

Increased Dickey usage on this road trip, when the Mets do not have an off-day, would mean the team would be juggling other starters' schedules without being able to skip the fifth starter. And that would cause concern that disrupted schedules would mean the other starters' performances would be adversely affected.

Dickey is due to pitch Sunday's series finale in Arizona, then the series opener in San Diego next Friday. If he were to work on short rest the start immediately after that, it would occur in the Aug. 7 homestand opener against the Marlins.

Of course, using Dickey on short rest would be contingent upon the Mets remaining in contention.

"I've got to sit with Sandy and talk about that stuff," Collins said. "I'm not going to make any of those decisions about bringing R.A. back until Sandy and I sit down. Right now, he's got other things on his mind. I'll worry about that when [Alderson] gets to San Francisco."