01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Suddenly serious about filling their need at second base, the New York Mets met with Luis Castillo's agents Monday night but were unable to make any progress in signing the free agent. At the same time, their chances of signing their reliever of choice, Keith Foulke, appeared to be diminishing.

The former A's closer met with the Red Sox Monday and then attended the Celtics game against the Knicks Monday night in Boston with Sox GM Theo Epstein.

The Mets had hoped Foulke's close relationship with new Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson would help them convince him to leave the A's. However, the Red Sox have targeted the right-hander as their own top choice to fill their need for a closer, and a source close to Foulke said Monday night that the right-hander is more inclined to sign with either them or the A's because he sees the Mets as a rebuilding situation.

After discussing all of Castillo's pros and cons, the Mets apparently are still undecided if it's worth it to make a commitment that would succeed in luring the speedy second baseman who hit .314 for the Marlins but struggled at the plate in the World Series.

Prompted by a phone call from brothers Seth and Sam Levinson, the New York-based agents who recently became Castillo's representatives, Mets GM Jim Duquette and CFO Jeff Wilpon met with them Monday night.

Sources say the agents, who have done plenty of business with the Wilpons, told the Mets that Castillo wants to play for them, but were urging them to move quickly if they wanted him before other teams got into the bidding.

The Marlins have made a three-year offer to Castillo, believed to be in the range of $15 million to $18 million. A source said the Cubs have expressed that type of interest. Other teams with money to spend, namely the Red Sox and Yankees, could also be knocking on Castillo's door in the coming weeks, at least partly depending on where Japanese star Kaz Matsui winds up signing.

ROUNDUP FIRST BASEMEN TRADED: The Chicago Cubs added some power to their lineup yesterday, acquiring Derrek Lee from the Florida Marlins for Hee Seop Choi HARGROVE BACK WITH TRIBE: Former Indians manager Mike Hargrove "I still want to manage, but I don't want to manage the Indians right now," Hargrove said. "I'm not trying to get anyone's job." Hargrove will help develop minor-league staff members and mentor major-league coaches.

SMOLTZ TO STAY IN 'PEN: John Smoltz will remain in the Atlanta Braves' bullpen instead of returning to the starting rotation. "He's going to keep doing the things he's done for us for years and doing it well," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said yesterday. "He's going to be our closer." Smoltz, who had elbow surgery last month and can't throw until January, had expressed interest in returning to his former role as a starter. OROSCO TO ARIZONA: Relief pitcher Jesse Orosco, Sheffield meets with Yankees: Gary Sheffield had an informal meeting with the New York Yankees, who may be interested in signing the free-agent outfielder. Sheffield came across four high-ranking Yankees officials at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' game against the New York Giants Monday night. His agent, Rufus Williams, said it was an informal conversation. Sheffield is talking with several teams, Williams said. "It's still in the preliminary phase," Williams said Tuesday. "I'm happy with the way everything is progressing."