by Ken Rosenthal

The Mets now have three options: They can work out a trade with the Red Sox by 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday; they can allow Wagner to depart on the claim; or they can pull Wagner back off waivers, a move that would prevent them from trading Wagner for the remainder of the season.

Wagner, however, has a full no-trade clause, meaning he could veto a trade to Boston. Whether he would invoke his no-trade rights remains unclear. If Wagner proves he is healthy, the Red Sox would possess the financial wherewithal to pick up his $8 million club option for 2010.

"It's too early to tell," if Wagner would accept a trade, according to a major-league source.

The Mets will be reluctant to include money in a deal, according to a source with knowledge of the club's thinking.

Wagner is projected to be a Type A free agent, so he would bring two high draft picks as compensation if his team — whether it's the Mets or Red Sox — offered him salary arbitration.

"I would think Boston is motivated to give up real prospects," a rival executive said. "It's probably not just a rental for them. The Mets should treat him as a two-year player. He would have trade value this winter. The deal should get done, but not as a giveaway."

Thus, in the opinion of one rival executive, the Mets will not simply give away Wagner, the way the White Sox did in sending outfielder Alex Rios to the Blue Jays. Wagner, the executive said, has trade value.

Wagner, 38, was expected to miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last Sept. 10. The Mets activated him Thursday night, and he struck out two batters in a perfect, 14-pitch eighth inning, touching 96 mph.