FOXSports.com reported this morning that the Mets were close to signing free agent catcher Bengie Molina but the news on Carlos Beltran’s surgery could delay it or force the team to rethink its offseason strategy.

“Beltran isn’t expected to resume baseball activities for roughly three months, raising the possibility that the Mets must allocate additional dollars toward adding an outfielder,” Jon Paul Morosi writes.

Molina hit 20 home runs with 80 RBIs for the Giants last season.

“If anything, Beltran’s unavailability for Opening Day places a greater emphasis on adding a player who can hit in the middle of the order,” Morosi writes. “And Molina batted cleanup for the Giants through most of the 2009 season.”

FOX Sports also says the Marlins may have interest in Mets utilityman Fernando Tatis.