Scott Boras may not be finished doing business in the Big Apple this winter.
The super agent already has Mark Teixeira ticketed for the Yankees, and last night a baseball source indicated Mets GM Omar Minaya is having discussions with Boras about the top starting pitcher remaining on the free-agent market, Derek Lowe.
The source said, however, that no offer has been extended to Lowe, a 35-year-old right-hander who spent the last four seasons with the Dodgers.
Lowe last season was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA.
Minaya addressed his biggest concern at the Winter Meetings earlier this month, bolstering the bullpen with the additions of Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz. Now all attention shifts to the starting rotation, where the Mets have vacancies behind Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey and John Maine.
The Mets haven’t ruled out the possibility of re-signing Oliver Perez – yet another Boras client – but would likely only go that route, the source indicated, if Minaya deems the asking price for Lowe too steep.
Minaya may have serious competition for Lowe. Now that Teixeira isn’t headed to Boston, the Red Sox could make a major push to sign Lowe, who spent 7 1/2 years with Boston before departing as a free agent following the 2004 season.
Lowe would complement Boston’s Big Three of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka, maybe lessening the sting of losing Teixeira to the Yankees.
Earlier this offseason Minaya said he ideally hoped to add a big-ticket item to the starting rotation and then fill the No. 5 spot from within, perhaps giving rookie Jon Niese a shot.