ATLANTA -- Internal trade dialogue among Astros executives posted on the anonymous data sharing web site Anonbin (here and here) reveals that Mets and Houston officials discussed a deal involving Daniel Murphy last December.

Villar

Murphy The Dec. 16 entry in which Astros officials purportedly share details internally of trade conversations with the Mets reads:

"12/16/2013, Depo asked Jeff if we would consider Villar in a Murphy deal."

DePo is, of course, Paul DePodesta. Jeff would be Astros GM Jeff Luhnow. And Villar is shortstop Jonathan Villar, now 23 years old and hitting .200 with six homers, 22 RBIs and 14 steals in 225 at-bats this season.

A Mets official, apprised of the leaked dialogue, did not dispute the accuracy.

That Murphy was available last offseason if the Mets got the right price is no industry secret. In fact, it's entirely foreseeable Murphy is traded at some point in the next 13 months -- either in July, during the winter, or at the 2015 trade deadline.

Murphy (.301/.351/.417) leads the National League in hits with 101. He also is making $5.7 million this season, is arbitration eligible one more time next offseason, then can become a free agent after the 2015 season.

There's also an early spring training inquiry about Ike Davis, floating Lucas Harrell and minor-league left-hander Alex Sogard. It reads:

"2/27/2014, JL asked PD if they woudl consider Davis for Harrell + Sogard. PD said they value Davis higher for that. He said it appears they may value Davis higher than the market does, so they are comfortable hanging on to him."

In an early offseason groundwork call, Mets assistant GM John Ricco reportedly told Houston, according to a database entry from the Astros: "JR said that they have some pressure to get better next year but have some payroll flexibility to help them do that. They are looking for corner OF help, a veteran starter, and a little bullpen help. Overall they're looking to incrementally upgrade where they can"

Deadspin first reported the existence of the data.