"Obtaining one closer apparently isn't enough for the Mets. On the day Francisco Rodriguez passed his physical, GM Omar Minaya swung a deal for Mariners reliever J.J. Putz in a three-team deal involving Cleveland, sources told the Daily News.

The Mets are sending Aaron Heilman and Double-A first baseman Mike Carp to the Mariners and Joe Smith to the Indians, who will send right fielder Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle. The Mets are also getting Seattle reliever Sean Green and outfielder Jeremy Reed in the deal.

Putz is a high-priced setup man, since he's owed $5 million in '09 and has a team option for 2010 at $8.6 million with a $1 million buyout. The 31-year-old righthander went 6-5 with a 3.88 ERA and 15 saves for Seattle last season. Sources say the Mariners liked rookie lefthander Jon Niese, but the Mets have him penciled in as a candidate to be their No. 5 starter.

The Mets backloaded K-Rod's deal, and will pay him just $8.5 million in 2009, allowing for other additions without exceeding last year's $143 million payroll. If Rodriguez's option vests for 2012, he will make $17.5 million that season, Otherwise, $3.5 million will be paid essentially as a buyout that year.

A Mets official described the volume of trade talks with other teams regarding Mets relievers as "heavy" Wednesday with the inquiries also about Pedro Feliciano, not just the relievers the Mets would like to ship out.

Meanwhile, Minaya acknowledged the bidding for the Mets' top free-agent target, Derek Lowe, appears to have soared beyond the team's willingness to spend. Instead, Minaya laid reasonably optimistic odds - 50-50 - that Oliver Perez would be re-signed, while naming Niese and fellow rookie Bobby Parnell as fighting for the No. 5 slot in the rotation. The Mets have interest in free agent Randy Wolf, who went a combined 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA with the Padres and Astros last season."