The Mets didn’t wait to get in on some major action in Vegas yesterday. Omar Minaya and his crew including Jeff Wilpon arrived on Wilpon’s jet in Vegas at 5 PM, only to immediately rush off to a local steakhouse to meet with free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez and his agent Paul Kinzer. They spent 4 hours at this steakhouse, I can’t imagine it took that long to eat, so some in depth negotiations had to take place.

It is believed the Mets are “really hoping to have this all set by the end of these meetings”. The team is led to believe by Kinzer that a 3 year deal could be worked out as long as a 4th year vesting option, possibly based on health is included. According to a league source with knowledge of the discussions, the Mets presented Rodriguez with an offer of 3 years worth roughly $36 million dollars. It is also possible that this offer includes a 4th year option that could bring the deal’s value to somewhere in the $48-$50 million dollar range if the option were to be exercised.

I can’t imagine it takes much more money to get this done, it may end up being as high as 3 years $39 million which would be $13 million per season. The league source tells me that “if this deal doesn’t do it for the K-Rod camp, it will not take much more. They will shop the deal around to other teams, but I think K-Rod also wants this done sooner than later. He wants New York, and New York wants him, it’s a match made in heaven.”

To be safe the Mets are also planning meetings with free agents Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman, as well as Kerry Wood if he ends up showing up in Vegas. As I have been saying since the offseason opened, K-Rod is the Mets guy, and I don’t have anything suggesting anything contrary to that, nor have I at any point. Expect meetings with the other candidates, but I think there is little doubt that K-Rod is the clear preference, and the fact that it’s likely you can net him on a 3 year deal makes him that much more likely.

In other Mets bullpen news, talks with the Mets and Rockies in regards to Huston Street should pick up significantly either today or tomorrow, with a source telling NYBD that “there is increasing optimism on both sides that a deal could happen.” Take that for what it is, but both teams seem to be interested in making this work. The Rockies love Aaron Heilman, and have since 2006, if they end up with him, he’d immediately become a member of their rotation, while Street is someone the Mets see as an eighth inning man. The Mets goal is to get a closer via free agency(K-Rod) and then trade for a set-up man(Street or Seattle’s JJ Putz. Though it does not appear Putz is on the block yet, if he will be at all.). Right now the Rockies are asking for Aaron Heilman and Pedro Feliciano, with the Mets countering with Heilman and a prospect such as Mike Carp. There is confidence though that an agreement can possibly be reached by the end of the winter meetings.

Tags: Brian Fuentes, Francisco Rodriguez, Huston Street, Kerry Wood, New York Mets, Trevor Hoffman