According to Rosenthal, and multiple reports throughout the week, the Mets, Cubs, Nationals and Angels had also expressed interest in signing Ibanez.

In November, ESPN’s Jayson Stark wrote that at least 12 teams had been interested, including every team in the NL East.

On Tuesday, Rosenthal wrote that members of the Mets front office had been spotted meeting with Ibanez’s agents at a restaurant inside the Bellagio.

Ibanez played in all 162 games this season, and hit .293 with 23 HR, 110 RBI and a .358 OBP.

He has hit at least .280 with 20 HR and a .350 OBP during each of the last four seasons with the Mariners.

Stark also quoted a team official as describing Ibanez by saying, “Character. Proven run producer.  In better shape than a lot of 25-year-olds.  And he’ll play hard every day, every game, every second he has the uniform on.”

In November, however, Rosenthal said Mets officials wanted to add ‘a right-handed bat,’ instead, adding, ‘The Mets are not high on Pat Burrell, and Ibanez is not an ideal fit.’

Tonight, on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove, Heyman added:

“Marquis is a good number five starter, he’ll throw innings, he wins in double digits – you know, it makes sense and I think it’ll will get done.  I know Omar is saying it will be later and a long shot… I think the later part is right, but this makes too much sense.  The Cubs are pushing on the Mets right now, but eventually I think the they will do this deal.”

Heyman also said he believes the Mets are considering Raul Ibanez, though they’re not alone, adding, ‘the Mets love him, and they will consider him if the price is right.’

Lastly, Heyman flatly said, ‘No,’ when asked if the Mets will go after free-agent OF Manny Ramirez, adding, ‘I just don’t think they want him on their team.”

However, Davidoff adds, “The Cubs and Phillies seem to have taken the lead in the competition to sign Ibanez.”

Earlier in the week at FoxSports.com, Rosenthal listed the Mets, Angels, Phillies, Braves and Nationals among teams interested in Ibanez.

According to Rosenthal, members of the Mets front office were spotted meeting with Ibanez’s agents at a restaurant inside the Bellagio hotel on Tuesday afternoon.

Speaking of outfielders…

Rosenthal recently reported that the rumored deal between the Brewers and Yankees involving Mike Cameron ‘is not done and may not get done.’

According to Rosenthal, Milwuakee is asking for a second player in addition to Ian Kennedy, whilke the Yankees would like the Brewers to pay a portion of Cameron’s contract.

That said, while Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the chances of a deal are ‘remote,’ the Los Angeles Times reports the deal is done.

According to Rosenthal, members of the team’s front office were spotted meeting with Ibanez’s agents at a restaurant inside the Bellagio hotel on Tuesday afternoon.

Rosenthal believes the Angels, Phillies, Braves and Nationals are among the other teams interested in Ibanez.

Last month, in a report for the New York Post, Joel Sherman said the Mets and Rays had been in talks regarding Sonnanstine and Jackson, since Tampa has shown interest in Aaron Heilman.

Speaking of outfielders…

“The Phillies, Mets and Cubs appear to have separated themselves from the pack of teams pursuing outfielder Raul Ibanez,” writes Jayson Stark at ESPN.com.

Stark also reports that Scott Boras met with the Dodgers yesterday to discuss bringing free-agent OF Manny Ramirez back to Los Angeles.  However, Stark says, ‘The Dodgers did not put their two-year, $45-million contract offer back on the table.’

…the buzz in Vegas seems to be that boras has every intention of making manny the last player to sign a contract this off-season, in an effort to focus a market for his services…

Accoridng to the Boston Globe, “Milton Bradley is in intense discussions with the Cubs.”

Meanwhile, the Cubs prefer Bobby Abreu and Raul Ibanez over Adam Dunn, according to Jayson Stark at ESPN.com.

…also, from what i can tell, they’re not alone…i’m starting to think the only people who like dunn are baseball fans in front of computers…which is sad…

The Yankees and Dodgers may once again talk about swapping of Robinson Cano and Matt Kemp, according to FoxSports.com.

…from what i can gather, the Dodgers will want a pitching prospect, in addition to cano, in a deal for kemp…

The Phillies have contacted the Twins about OF Delmon Young, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, who speculates such a deal would need to include top SS prospect Jason Donald.

…if you’re liking young, stop…i have been told a few times already that the Mets do not have what it takes to pull off such a deal…and i’m not the Phillies do either, frankly…

Last week, Omar Minaya confirmed that his team has interest in Ibanez, wrote the Daily News.

“We’ve heard very good reports about him, not only as a player, but as a person,” Minaya told the Daily News.

In a Sunday round-up for Baseball Prospectus, John Perrotto believes the Mets could soon become suitors for free-agent OF Manny Ramirez.

Speaking of Ramirez, in a post to ESPN.com, Peter Gammons writes:

“Ramirez is in better shape now than he was when he signed with the Red Sox… ‘The work Manny did for his core and his agility completely changed him,’ says former North Carolina coach Mike Roberts, who oversees much of the baseball-related operations for API.  ‘It is amazing what he’s done for his body.’”

Speaking of outfielders, last week, WCKY in Cincinnati reported the White Sox requested RHP Homer Bailey and a second prospect from the Reds in a deal for Jermaine Dye.

Similarly, according to the Boston Globe, the White Sox would want more than just Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson from the Rays in exchange for Dye.

…he’s the perfect solution for the Mets, in that he has power, he’s a respected player, he’s won, he has only one year guaranteed on his current deal, and he’s a righty…but, i’m not yet sure he’s worth a collection of pitching prospects…

Lastly, also regarding outfielders, the market for Adam Dunn is not what Dunn had hoped it would be, according to Jon Heyman at SI.com.

In a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal wonders if the D’Backs will offer arbitration to Dunn, and if will he accept it.

…the more his price drops, the more i am intrigued by dunn, who is such a divisive figure for online baseball fans…people either love dunn, or they think he’s terribly overrated…i like him…especially as a sixth hitter, who will either clobber a home run, keep the line moving or strike out…

…if the D’Backs do not offer him arbitration, meaning he will not cost a new team any compensatory draft picks, it will be interesting to see if more people begin checking in on him…

In fact, “The Mets, Cubs, Cardinals, Braves and Mariners have him at the top of their position-player shopping lists,” writes Stark.

Stark quotes a team official as saying of Ibanez, “Character. Proven run producer.  In better shape than a lot of 25-year-olds.  And he’ll play hard every day, every game, every second he has the uniform on.”

Ibanez played in all 162 games this season, and hit .293 with 23 HR, 110 RBI and a .358 OBP.

He has hit at least .280 with 20 HR and a .350 OBP during each of the last four seasons with the Mariners.

In a recent post to ESPN.com, Peter Gammons wrote of Ibanez, “His 338 RBIs the past three years are more than Ramirez, Teixeira, or Vladimir Guerrero; he is a leader, a tremendous person and a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat.”

However, in a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal says the Mets want to add ‘a right-handed bat, writing, ‘The Mets are not high on Pat Burrell, and Ibanez is not an ideal fit.’

…and that’s the thing, most of the best free-agent options all bat lefty, such as Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Garret Anderson, and Ken Griffey Jr.…

…yes, Manny Ramirez is a free agent, but i just can’t see any National League team, much less then Mets, signing him to a long-term deal, except maybe the Dodgers who need him as much as he needs Hollywood…

…Juan Rivera is a right-handed bat, who can also play first base, and the Mets reportedly expressed interest in him around the trade deadline, so it would stand to reason they have at least minimal interest in him now…however, he is two years removed from his one good season, in his eight-year career, so to rely on him would be a huge mistake…though, to his credit, he did not get many at bats last season…

…to me, the most effective solution would be to acquire Jermaine Dye from the White Sox…

“On Tuesday, Nov. 11, several White Sox officials watched Mets pitching prospects Bobby Parnell and Eddie Kunz pitch in the Arizona Fall League,’ reported Mark Gonzales in the Chicago Tribune.

According to Gonzales, citing two NL scouts, the Sox were scouting players for deals that include Dye, who hit .292 with 34 HR, 96 RBI and a .344 OBP in 154 games last season.

Dye will earn $11.5 million in 2009, after which he has a mutual option in 2010 for $12 million, or a $1 million buyout that could make him a free agent.

…either way, the Mets are not going to have enough minor-league talent or money to upgrade at both second base and left field…so, if the Mets are unable to trade for dye, and they decide ibanez is not ideal, then my suggestion would be to sign Orlando Hudson to play second, and start Daniel Murphy in left field with a substantial back-up, i.e., Jose Reyes, Orlando Hudson, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church and Daniel Murphy would lack substantial power, but it would be sound and balanced, and the infield would be strong up the middle, which, to me, is more important…

However, Davidoff adds, they have not been in contact with Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn or Orlando Hudson.

…i do not get the sense ibanez is minaya’s first choice, or, at least not a top priority…ideally, i believe he would prefer to get a younger, right-handed bat in the outfield, but i am not sure how that happens…so, it makes sense that he would quickly reach out to ibanez, to let the player and his agent know where the Mets stand…

The 37–year-old Ibanez has hit at least .280 and 20 HR with a .350 OBP during each of the last four seasons.

In a recent post to ESPN.com, Peter Gammons wrote of Ibanez, “His 338 RBIs the past three years are more than Ramirez, Teixeira, or Vladimir Guerrero; he is a leader, a tremendous person and a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat.”

Ibanez was born in Manhattan, Davidoff explains, adding, “He long has held an interest in playing in New York, according to a friend who spoke on the condition of anonymity.”

By the way, to read more from Davidoff, check out his Baseball Insider blog for Newsday, which he will clearly be updating through the off-season.