…from what i can gather, a) cordero was looking to find the best shot at being a closer, and seattle is now that, no doubt, and b) the Mets expressed interest, but backed off once they acquired J.J. Putz and Sean Green from the Mariners…

Rubin also provides detailed photos of Francisco Rodriguez in Mets gear, the day’s workouts and Johan Santana’s bullpen session, courtesy of photographer Howard Simmons.

Speaking of K-Rod, it appears his car had a dead battery today, as you can at Steve Popper’s blog for the Bergen Record.

Lastly, K-Rod is wearing red contact lenses, instead of his signature goggles, according to David Lennon of Newsday.

Kevin Burkhardt will air a one-on-one interview with Francisco Rodriguez on SportsNite, which airs tonight on SNY.

The Brewers, Rangers, D’Backs, Nationals and Tigers will also watch Cordero, according to published reports.

Cordero missed the second half of last season following shoulder surgery, but is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Last month, the OC Register said Cordero could miss the first month of the season, according to the player’s agent.

Cordero, 26, has yet to finish a season with an ERA above 3.36 in his six-year career, during which he has been successful 83 percent of the time in save opportunities, while striking out 292 batters in 320 innings.

According to D.C. reporter Bill Ladson, of MLB.com, Cordero’s first choice would be to sign with the Angels.  However, he says, “Cordero also wouldn’t mind having a reunion with Omar Minaya.”

Speaking of relief pitchers…

The Brewers and free-agent RHP Trevor Hoffman have agreed on a deal, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, per MLBTR.

During the Winter Meetings in December, Bill Ladson of MLB.com said Cordero intended to meet with the Mets, Cardinals, Rangers, Tigers and D’Backs while in Las Vegas.

In a report from November, Ladson claimed that the Mets, Angels, Rangers and Tigers had shown interest in Cordero, who had surgery in July to repair a torn labrum.

He missed the second half of last season, but is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

“Cordero’s first choice would be to sign with the Angels,” Ladson explained, “because he is from Anaheim and grew up an Angels fan.”  However, he added, “Cordero also wouldn’t mind having a reunion with Mets general manager Omar Minaya.”

The 26–year-old Cordero has yet to finish a season with an ERA above 3.36 in his six-year career, during which he has been successful 83 percent of the time in save opportunities, while striking out 292 batters in 320 innings.

According to the report, Cordero intends to meet with the Mets, Cardinals, Rangers, Tigers and D’Backs.

…last week i noted how more than one person has suggested to me that Omar Minaya will meet with cordero sooner than later…there are concerns about cordero’s shoulder, following mid-season surgery, so the team may want to see him in action in advance of any serious talks…

…in the end, i believe the Mets are interested in reshaping and building up their bullpen with inexpensive, potentially high-reward pitchers on short-term contracts, so cordero is a logical option…

Speaking of relief pitchers…

Astros closer Jose Valverde is not available, reports ESPN.com.

“I don’t like to talk publicly about potential trades,” the team’s GM Ed Wade is quoted as saying, “but I can assure that Valverde is not being traded.”

Also, “The Indians met on Monday with the agents for free-agent closer Kerry Wood,” reports Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com.

…i sense Mets fans are pretty split on beimel…i like him, some do not…the thing is, it may not matter…

…from what i can gather, in an effort to re-make their bullpen, the Mets are working to trade for a set-up man with experience as a closer, such as Huston Street; then sign an actual closer, like Francisco Rodriguez; and then sign one or two relief pitchers, also with experience as a closer, to round out the pen, while counting on Joe Smith, Brian Stokes and Pedro Feliciano to be part of the group next season…

…actually, more than one person has suggested to me that Omar Minaya will meet with free-agent RHP Chad Cordero sooner than later…there are concerns about cordero’s shoulder, following mid-season surgery, so the team may want to see him in action in advance of any serious talks i guess…

…in the end, i sense the Mets do not want to lock in to any long-term deals with a guy such as beimel, especially if they can trade for some one like street…however, not including the closer, i believe the team is interested in reshaping and building up its bullpen with low-risk, potentially high-reward pitchers on short-term contracts, so cordero is a logical option…

In November, MLB.com reported that the Mets, Angels, Rangers and Tigers had shown early interest in Cordero.

He had surgery in July to repair a torn labrum, missed the rest of the season, and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

“Cordero’s first choice would be to sign with the Angels,” explains Ladson, “because he is from Anaheim and grew up an Angels fan.”

However, he adds, “Cordero also wouldn’t mind having a reunion with Mets general manager Omar Minaya.”

According to Ken Davidoff in Newsday, the Mets will also ‘investigate’ free-agent set-up men LHP Joe Beimel, RHP Juan Cruz and Cordero.

The 26–year-old Cordero has yet to finish a season with an ERA above 3.36 in his six-year career, during which he has been successful 83 percent of the time in save opportunities, while striking out 292 batters in 320 innings.

According to Davidoff, the Mets will also ‘investigate’ free-agent set-up men LHP Joe Beimel, RHP Juan Cruz and RHP Chad Cordero.

The Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs and D’Backs have interest in Heilman, wrote Adam Rubin in the Daily News on Tuesday.

Davidoff adds the A’s, Rays and Rangers to the short-list of teams who could be interested in Heilman.

Speaking of a closer, today in the Daily News, Adam Rubin writes, “Brian Fuentes appears the clear-cut target while Francisco Rodriguez’s asking price appears to exceed the sum the Mets would find palatable.”

However, according to Joel Sherman in the New York Post, regarding the closer’s market, “Met officials departed the GM meetings confident that someone they like from the free-agent field will fall to them in this game of big-money musical chairs.”

…sherman makes an important point, in that the Brewers, Cardinals, D’Backs, Rockies, Indians and Tigers, and the Mets, are all in the market for a closer…

…however, most of those teams are unlikely to spend huge money on rodriguez or fuentes or wood, instead, they would prefer a more cost-effective option like trading for Bobby Jenks, Jose Valverde, J.J. Putz, Kevin Gregg or Huston Street…

…meaning, as sherman concludes, the Mets have a pretty clear advantage in the free-agent market…

…at any rate, i think it’s pretty clear Omar Minaya and Company are operating with a laser-like focus on upgrading the bullpen and rotation, while letting the offense sit tight for a while…

According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, RHP Chad Cordero refused assignment and is now a free agent.

Cordero had surgery in July to repair a torn labrum, missed the rest of the season, and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

…i would not go nuts for cordero…i get that he’s been a very, very good pitcher, but you’ll be hard pressed to find any one who returned to form following that type of surgery…it’s a gamble…

…Omar Minaya almost certainly will have interest, seeing as reportedly tried to trade for him each of the last three seasons…

The 26–year-old Cordero has yet to finish a season with an ERA above 3.36 in his six-year career, during which he has been successful 83 percent of the time in save opportunities, while striking out 292 batters in 320 innings.