The Mets are nearing agreement on a minor league contract with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, a person familiar with the negotiations told The AP.

Dickey, a 35-year-old right-hander, made 14 starts for Seattle in 2008 but was primarily a reliever for Minnesota last season, when he went 1-1 with a 4.62 ERA in one start and 34 relief appearances.

Dickey has pitched his entire career without the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Doctors think he either was born without the ligament or it dissolved after a tear.