LAS VEGAS – Mets GM Omar Minaya initiated what he hoped would be a series of face-to-face meetings with free-agent closers by having a sitdown last night with Francisco Rodriguez, two baseball officials confirmed to The Post.
It was possible the Mets were going to officially extend a three-year contract proposal last night, as well.
Minaya also said he had asked for and received permission to meet in person in Vegas with Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman, and was hoping he might be able to do the same with Kerry Wood before these meetings conclude Thursday.
Jeff Borris, the representative for both Fuentes and Hoffman, acted surprised when a reporter broached the Met meeting with his clients, but refused to comment further.
Besides the face-to-face meetings, the Mets expressed their seriousness to get a closer signed sooner rather than later by having COO Jeff Wilpon attend these meetings, as well.
Minaya said he thought there was a strong possibility of securing a closer before heading home. K-Rod probably is their top choice if they could somehow convince him to accept a three-year deal in the $39M range.
Minaya strongly hinted at two strategies that will be used in trying to land a closer and solve the Mets’ biggest need:
1) Minaya said he badly wants to protect the farm system, which means he would rather sign a free agent than trade prospects for Seattle’s J.J. Putz or Houston’s Jose Valverde.
“I may be more inclined to do free agents rather that give up prospects,” Minaya said.
2) He indicated the Mets will put out multiple offers, with the first closer to accept getting the money.
“I would be happy with different guys,” he said.
Minaya contrasted that to when the Mets identified Billy Wagner as the only available closer they wanted after the ’05 season, and had to go against their desires and give a four-year deal.
The Mets believe that they can keep their offers to three years because they like several of the available candidates, and also because there are not other big-market clubs going after a closer. It is possible the Mets will establish the top of the market, and a closer who does not take their offer might not be able to match it elsewhere.
The Mets tried a similar strategy after the 2005 season when it came to catching. They offered similar three-year deals to free agents Ramon Hernandez and Bengie Molina, with a first-come, first-served proviso. Neither took the deal and the Mets ended up trading for Paul Lo Duca.
But in this case, the Mets are confident they will get one of their major targets. And Minaya believed that meeting in person with some of the candidates only could facilitate a deal.
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Oliver Perez rejected arbitration last night. So if he signs with another team, the Mets would receive as compensation a first-round draft pick and a selection between the first and second rounds.