According to David Waldstein of the New York Times, the Mets and Hisanori Takahashi have been discussing a new contract.  Waldstein points out that due to a unique clause, the Mets have only one week left to negotiate with Takahashi before he will become a free agent.  If the Mets fail to reach an agreement by then (Oct 31), the earliest they could re-sign him would be May 15th.  Its a unique clause but was inserted into his contract as Takahashi and his people felt he was undervalued when he signed his minor league contract last year.

Takahashi’s agent, Peter Greenberg, said negotiations with the Mets were under way, although he would not characterize what stage they were in.  “We have been talking,” Greenberg said. “Hisa loved his time in New York, and hopefully, something can be worked out. If not, then he will have to look elsewhere.”

Further complicating the issue is that the Mets do not have a general manager. The assistant general manager, John Ricco, has been handling the negotiations.

Takahashi’s preference would be to be a starter but would not rule out a return to the bullpen due to the success he had this year.