In addition, Hernandez believes that second baseman Orlando Hudson and pitcher Randy Wolf will not return to Los Angeles and will leave as free agents.

…Hudson’s name is obviously going to be mentioned, but once again the Mets are handcuffed with Luis Castillo and the $12 million remaining on his contract…prior to signing with Los Angeles last winter, Hudson did express interest in coming to New York but the Mets were unable to deal Castillo…if they can somehow unload his contract or pay a portion of it in some sort of trade, then I think the Mets will intensely pursue him…

…Wolf is an interesting guy…I thought the Mets should have brought him in last winter for the fifth starter spot, but after the season he had in 2009, he is going to want money that a number 2 pitcher earns…but that shouldn’t stop the Mets from at least paying attention to the market that develops around Wolf…

For more on this, check out Hernandez’s article.

Speaking of players not on the Mets…

In a post to his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman wonders still why the Mets did not look to sign Orlando Hudson as a free agent this past off season, especially when his price tag dropped to one year and $4 million.

According to Sherman, “The Mets knew they had some edge in that Hudson wanted to play in New York, in part, because he is such close pals with Carlos Delgado… Hudson fit so many needs for the Mets, and not just as an excellent player on both sides of the ball. He is a positive person and clubhouse force. Dodger insiders already rave about how much Hudson loves the game and uplifts the group with his upbeat temperament. With so much negativity still swirling around the Mets – as those quick Monday night boos emphasized – Hudson could have helped.”

Sherman also blogs about Mike Pelfrey’s trouble this season, and how it is similar to what Chien-Ming Wang is experiencing.

Update, 3:33 p.m.

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that the Dodgers have signed Hudson to a one-year contract worth $3.4 million with an additional $4.6 million in possible incentives.

Hudson also cost the Dodgers their first-round Draft pick in June.

…one-year, so that means i have to be ready for next winter’s buzz surrounding the Mets and hudson once again…

Instead, Stark believes Hudson may be looking at signing a one-year contract with the Nationals or Dodgers.

…i believe, once the Mets realized Luis Castillo could not be traded, and then committed to giving him the opportunity to succeed in spring training, it all but sealed hudson’s fate…

Speaking of one-year deals…

…from what i can gather, having talked with people connected to the player, Bobby Abreu has been reaching out to the Mets, as he is willing to accept a one-year deal to stay in New York and switch back to the National League…

…however, i have not heard his name mentioned by people connected to the team, which is not surprising, considering he’s yet another left-handed hitter, he’s not strong enough on defense to handle right in Citi Field, and he may still looking for $10 million per season…

However, in a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal writes, “Hudson would prefer to play for one of the New York teams… neither the Mets nor Yankees currently has an opening at second base, but he seems to be banking on one of those clubs pursuing a creative solution.”

…interesting… because, the winter meetings buzz had been, that if the Braves could sign hudson or Orlando Cabrera, to play second, they’d more more inclined to part with Yunel Escobar in a deal to get Jake Peavy from the Padres… which is not to say that is why they’re still interested in hudson, but it’s worth noting…

Speaking of Hudson, the Nationals remain interested in him, as well as free-agent OF Adam Dunn, reports MLB.com.

… seriously, what is Jim Bowden’s fascination with stock piling outfielders, creating a log jam, all at the expense of his starting rotation… he did the exact same thing with the Reds, and what’s weird is he’s doing it again with dunn and Austin Kearns… he should just sign Ken Griffey Jr. and get it over with…

Hudson

…i believe, having talked with people connected to the team, the Mets would like to trade castillo, and feel there is a 50–50 shot they can do so, but it may take in to spring training to make such a move happen…which, as you can figure out, causes problems when considering hudson, who will want to sign a new deal some place long before march, obviously…

…in other words, if you start seeing a lot of rumors connecting hudson to another team, it may mean the Mets have determined it is impossible to trade castillo…the buzz around hudson suggests he is willing to wait for a deal from the Mets or Yankees, but he will not wait forever…

According to Rosenthal, “The only way to do it would be to exchange Castillo’s contract for another of similar value…When the Mets asked the Rangers about Castillo for Vicente Padilla they were told, ‘No thank you.’

Speaking of second baseman, the O’s could eventually look in to trading 2B Brian Roberts, reports the Baltimore Sun, but not before the two sides try to work on a contract extension.

However, in an update to his blog for SI.com, Jon Heyman writes, “I wouldn’t doubt that the A’s have made him a big offer…I do doubt that the Mets have shown any serious interest.”

In fact, Heyman quotes a person familiar with the Mets dealings as saying, “No offer has been made.”

Meanwhile, at the San Francisco Chronicle, Susan Slusser calls the El Caribe report ‘untrue.’

…hmm, ok, well, some one probably should tell furcal that…

…i mean, it’s not like some anonymous source said the Mets and A’s made an offer…the actual player in question is the guy who made the statement…so, so crazy…

Speaking of second base, according to Andrew Marchand, on his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, Orlando Hudson’s first choice is to play for the Mets.

“Luis Castillo requested an offseason meeting in which he implored Mets officials not to trade him and also pledged to re-dedicate himself to offseason training to assure he is in top condition next season…Mets officials were pleased that Castillo did not want to flee from the problems. Instead, he stated a desire to play and win as a Met, and change the fans’ booing opinion of him, as well.”

Nevertheless, the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees and Indians are among the teams who have expressed interest in free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson, reports Jon Heyman on his blog for SI.com.

The Giants have ‘serious interest’ in Hudson as well, writes Chris Haft at MLB.com.

According to Heyman, Hudson is seeking a five-year deal worth more than $50 million.

…i am sure castillo is sincere…the thing is, can he change…

…frankly, the New York Post report reads more like a publicity effort from the Mets for castillo, who, from what i can gather, very few teams are interested in acquiring, regardless of what the Mets do to make a deal more attractive…

…the White Sox are rumored to be seeking a second baseman…they also want to rid themselves of Javier Vazquez…to me, there is a natural fit here…

…the Sox would get a second baseman, and while they’d be obligated to castillo for one extra year than they would have been to vazquez, the deal will cut $6 million from chicago’s payroll…

…similarly, the Mets pick up a fifth starter, which they need, for what amounts to an additional $6 million per season, but they clip their commitment by one season…

…for the Mets to make such a move, though, they need to be  certain of how to replace castillo, and right now they are totally focused on the bullpen and signing a front-end starting pitcher…