Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News believes the Mets "may be overestimating the interest" in second baseman Luis Castillo.
Castillo batted .302/.387/.346 in 2009, but he's now 34 years of age and has two years, $12 million left on his current contract. With Orlando Hudson and Mark DeRosa on the free agent market, and Dan Uggla reportedly available via trade, the market for Castillo could be pretty thin.
Source: New York Daily News

Mets general manager Omar Minaya plans to travel to Puerto Rico in December to watch Carlos Delgado participate in winter ball.
Minaya hasn't dismissed re-signing Delgado to play first base next season. Limited to just 26 games in 2009 due to an oblique injury and hip surgery, he hit .298/.393/.521 with four home runs and 23 RBI. The 37-year-old could be a cheap source of power, but he'll have to show he's healthy first.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger

According to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post, Mets GM Omar Minaya said Friday that he "wouldn't rule out" a contract extension for Jeff Francoeur.
Francoeur, who turns 26 this winter, was impressive during his time in New York this past season, batting .311/.338/.498 with 10 home runs, 20 doubles and 41 RBI in 289 at-bats. He's under team control until the 2012, but the Mets would like to lock him up through his arbitration years.
Source: Bart Hubbuch on Twitter

According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, general manager Omar Minaya has spoken with the Dodgers about Luis Castillo.
Minaya said that a few teams have shown interest in Castillo, which would have been unthinkable last winter. The Mets are in a better place this fall after Castillo batted .302/.387/.346 in 2009. The 34-year-old second baseman still has two years and $12 million left on his contract. Juan Pierre, who is slated to make $18.5 million over the next two seasons, would be a comparable swap.
Source: SI.com

Carlos Beltran would like to see Carlos Delgado return to the Mets next season.
"Honestly, I would love to (have Mets bring him back)," said Beltran. "At the same time, that depends on the team, what kind of direction they're going to take, what kind of player they're planning to play at first base. But Delgado's a guy, if he's healthy, you're going to get a lot of contribution - 30 home runs, 100 RBI. You're going to get that from Delgado...it's safe to invest the money because he (takes) care of himself." Limited to just 26 games in 2009 due to hip surgery, the 37-year-old first baseman hit .298/.393/.521 with four home runs and 23 RBI. He plans to play winter ball in Puerto Rico to round himself back into shape.
Source: New York Daily News

According to FOXSports.com, J.J. Putz would be willing to accept a set-up role.
"He has a preference to be a closer, but absolutely will not rule out an eighth-inning job depending upon many factors," his agent Craig Landis said. "Money obviously will be one. Location, how good the team is, the coaching staff. If everything else stacked up and it happened to be a setup job, we'd consider it." He may have no choice. The 32-year-old right-hander put up a disappointing 5.22 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 2009 and is working his way back from elbow surgery. As expected, the Mets declined his $9.1 million option last week.
Source: FOXSports.com

According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, a team source wouldn't rule out Carlos Delgado returning to the Mets next season.
The same official also portrayed a return as unlikely, unless Delgado is receptive to a low-cost, one-year contract. Delgado, 37, is a Type B free agent, meaning the Mets would receive a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of the 2010 first year player draft if they offer arbitration, however they are unlikely to do that because of the high salary Delgado would command in arbitration. He would likely accept an inflated one-year deal in arbitration, which the Mets would rather just avoid.
Source: New York Daily News

Jose Reyes (hamstring) is walking freely without crutches.
"He’s not 100%, obviously, at this point, but he looks great," said his agent Chris Leible. Reyes underwent surgery to repair a torn right hamstring tendon in October. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, the 26-year-old shortstop is expected to be fully recovered in time for the start of the spring training.
Source: New York Daily News

Mets exercised RHP Mike Pelfrey's $500,000 option for 2010.
Pelfrey finished 10-12 this season with a 5.03 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. Those aren't great numbers, but he's only 25 and the price is unbeatable. He faces three years of arbitration after the 2010 season.

Mets declined RHP J.J. Putz's $9.1 million option for 2010.
Putz was handed a $1 million buyout instead. He's hoping to return to the Mets at a less lucrative salary, but it's not clear if they'll want him. He was diagnosed with a few arm problems this season and posted a 5.22 ERA and 19/19 K/BB ratio in 29 1/3 innings while healthy.