Al

Leiter

The team currently holds a $10 million option with a $2 million buyout for 2005. That will be declined, but Leiter could get a one-year, $4 million contract with incentives.

Leiter can’t officially become a free agent until the Mets decline his $10 million option, but he needs to file before the deadline. The Mets have until Nov. 15 to make their decision on the option.

If Leiter leaves the Mets, the Yankees would seem to be the probable destination. It still be more likely that he stays in Queens. Leiter and the Mets are discussing a one-year deal worth more than $4 million in base salary with bonuses that could add another $3 million to $4 million to the package.

Signing Leiter wouldn’t stop the Yankees from pursuing Eric Milton. The team would like to have both.

“I know from our one conversation, at least in the smoke signals he sent out, that he feels a very strong loyalty to the Met fan base and that’s where he hoped to remain,” Cashman said. “That was something that he would explore every way to stay there.”

Leiter may want to see whether the Mets offer him arbitration before moving on. Since he is a Type A free agent, the Yankees should also be content to wait.

Leiter remains likely to sign with the Marlins, but once he officially becomes a compensation-free signing, the Yankees or another team could jump in with an offer. The Mets also aren’t expected to offer arbitration to Richard Hidalgo or Ricky Bottalico. Mike DeJean is a possibility.

Leiter will receive a $7 million salary, and the Marlins will make a $1 million contribution to his charitable foundation for children. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to us that the Marlins were willing to guarantee Leiter $8 million in 2005 but only offered Carl Pavano $7 million per season. Still, Pavano isn’t so much better of a bet for next season than Leiter is.

Leiter had hinted in the past that 2004 would be his final year. It is the final season of his contract with the Mets.

Leiter missed one start with mild tendinitis.