The Mets have agreed to trade Kris Benson to the Orioles for reliever Jorge Julio and righthanded pitching prospect John Maine, Newsday has learned. The Benson-for-Julio swap, which was discussed months ago, was revived early in the week and agreed to late Friday night. The Mets discussed trading Benson for much of the winter. This deal enables them to give Aaron Heilman an opportunity to win the No. 5 slot in the starting rotation. Heilman, whose stock soared last year, had requested a trade if he wasn't made a starter. Mets general manager Omar Minaya is said to like Julio's power arm. Julio, who's been clocked as high as 99 mph and reminds some of Armando Benitez, saved 83 games from 2002-04. However, his value fell after being hit hard last year after his demotion from closer to set-up man. Julio, who turns 27 in March, was 3-5 with a 5.90 ERA. Overall he is 11-24 with a 4.20 ERA. Maine, 24, gives the Mets yet another hard thrower. Maine was 2-3 with a 6.30 ERA for the Orioles last year. In 40 innings, he allowed 39 hits while walking 24 and striking out 24. Benson, 31, was 10-8 with a 4.13 ERA in 2005 after re-signing with the Mets for $22.5 million over three years. Benson is talented but has been perceived as underachieving since the Pirates made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft. The deal is a two-for-two trade for the Mets in a way in that Benson's wife Anna had become a colorful, constant presence around the Mets.