MET NOTES
Keith Foulke’s agent yesterday disputed the rumblings around baseball that Oakland’s free-agent closer does not want to leave the West Coast.
“Not true at all,” Dan Horwits said. “I’ve also seen that we’re close to signing with Oakland. Not true at all.”
That’s good news for the Mets, who – along with the Red Sox and A’s – continue to be very interested in the 31-year-old reliever. In fact, Horwits said he had another brief conversation with Met GM Jim Duquette about Foulke the other day, continuing a courtship that’s been ongoing for weeks.
Foulke is the best free-agent closer available, having gone 9-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 43 saves in 2003. The Mets also remain interested in both Chicago’s Billy Koch (via trade) and free agent Ugueth Urbina.
* Horwits, who’s also one of Mike Piazza’s agents, also said the Mets and Piazza are on the same page as far as the catcher’s status.
“I know both Danny [Lozano, Piazza’s primary agent] and Mike have talked to the Mets,” Horwits said.
Asked if Piazza is happy in New York and wants to stay – as his father, Vince, told The Post last Sunday – Horwits replied, “Exactly. I believe that’s exactly what happened.”
* Scott Strickland told the Mets’ website that his rehab from his June 17 Tommy John surgery is progressing rapidly. Incredibly, the 27-year-old reliever believes an April return is possible.
“It’s very possible I could be ready to rock and roll in April,” Strickland said. “That’s 2½ months ahead of schedule. But if I progress over the next four or five months the way I’ve progressed up until now, I should be ready to roll.”
* Angel CF Darin Erstad has added the Mets to his list of teams to which he cannot be traded. The other teams on Erstad’s no-trade list are the Marlins, Devil Rays and Expos. The Angels also are reportedly close to signing free-agent RHP Kelvim Escobar (whom the Mets had expressed preliminary interest in) to a three-year deal.