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**Kitty** · 11-24-2007, 03:49 PM

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The Mets tried to trade for Freddy Garcia last December, but the Phillies made a better offer and got the hulking righty from the White Sox.
The Mets, though, remained interested, and now that Garcia is a free agent, they've called his representative several times to discuss signing him. Garcia, 32, is rehabbing from shoulder surgery on his labrum and rotator cuff and should be ready to pitch by midseason, perhaps as early as June.
"The Mets have shown considerable interest in him, and some other teams, too," said Peter Greenberg, Garcia's agent. "Omar (Minaya, the Mets' GM) has called several times. Omar likes him. The Mets were one of the top contenders when the Phillies got him."
Greenberg said he would field offers for Garcia at the winter meetings, which begin Dec. 3 in Nashville, but he added that they might decide to wait to sign until after Garcia's rehab is finished. Then Greenberg would arrange showcases for Garcia to pitch in front of teams who then would bid on his services midway through next season.
"If something is right at the winter meetings, maybe he'll sign or maybe he'll wait and maybe make more money," Greenberg said. "He'd be a guy for the second half. Contenders are looking for pitching around that time and you wouldn't have to trade for it then. If we did a showcase and we reached a deal (next summer), we'd let a team do a physical and do a Roger Clemens, a prorated deal for that season plus any extra years."
Garcia, 6-4 and 260 pounds, has a 117-76 record and a 4.07 ERA over his nine-year career. He's won 16 or more games four times and is 6-2 with a 3.11 ERA in nine postseason starts. He won the clinching Game 4 of the 2005 World Series for the White Sox by blanking the Astros on four hits over seven innings.

Mets interested in Freddy Garcia