MET NOTES

Kris Benson is roughly 800 pitches away from free agency. Thus, time is not on the Mets’ side regarding a contract extension for Benson.

Benson’s agent, Gregg Clifton, will be in New York on Thursday to speak with general manager Jim Duquette. The Mets recently made a preliminary offer of a reported two years and $12 million, which was rejected.

Clifton said he didn’t want to negotiate in the press, although he acknowledged the 29-year- old righty clearly wants to stay at Shea. Benson (10-9, 4.52) starts tonight against San Diego and likely has seven more starts remaining after that.

Clifton, who also represents Tom Glavine, remains confident a deal can be done.

“He wants to be a Met, and the Mets want him to be a Met,” Clifton said.

Benson, who is 2-1 with a 6.12 ERA since he arrived from Pittsburgh in a trade, seems to hold significant leverage in this process.

If the Mets fail to re-sign a player whom they acquired for top prospects Matt Peterson and Justin Huber and Ty Wigginton, the fans will howl.

Freddy Garcia recently signed a three-year, $27 million contract extension after being traded from Seattle to the White Sox. It doesn’t take a genius to figure Benson’s looking for something in the same ballpark.

If Benson elects to test free-agency waters and call off negotiations, he’ll be in a loaded market that includes Pedro Martinez, Matt Morris and Derek Lowe.

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Duquette said Mike Piazza has begun swinging in the cage and taking BP but hasn’t caught yet. Jose Reyes hasn’t done much of anything yet.

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The Mets’ clubhouse was closed before the game due to random drug testing.