The Mets opened free agency quietly yesterday, stirring only long enough to scotch reports of a potential three-way trade involving Luis Castillo.
The proposed deal, originally reported by the Chicago Tribune, also involved the Cubs and Rangers and would have brought veteran starter Kevin Millwood to the Mets while sending Castillo to Chicago and troubled outfielder Milton Bradley back to Texas.
Though the Mets are eager to part with Castillo, who has two years left at $6 million per season, sources say the deal isn’t happening because the Rangers aren’t interested in giving up Millwood so easily. The big right-hander, who was 13-10 with a 3.67 ERA last season, has one year left on his contract at a reasonable $12 million.
The gimpy Castillo’s continued presence remains a stumbling block for the Mets, who would like to pursue free agents Orlando Hudson or Chone Figgins at second base if they could somehow find a taker for Castillo’s contract.
As far as the rest of free agency, the Mets aren’t expected to make any major moves until the Winter Meetings early next month in Indianapolis. It was at last year’s meetings when GM Omar Minaya made his two biggest deals of the offseason, signing closer Francisco Rodriguez and trading for reliever J.J. Putz.
The Mets’ top priority remains adding power in left field in the form of either Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. Holliday is represented by Scott Boras, whose presence portends a dragged-out process because he is known for waiting until late in free agency to close deals.
The Mets also are maintaining contact with the agents for potential rotation additions John Lackey, Randy Wolf and Joel Pineiro, and catchers Bengie Molina and Rod Barajas, while remaining interested in bringing back Carlos Delgado if the veteran slugger can show he is healthy.
Minaya is scheduled to fly to Puerto Rico next month to watch Delgado participate in winter ball there.