MET NOTES

PORT ST. LUCIE – The Mets announced their newest acquisition yesterday as well – Randy Keisler.

What, no press conference for R-Keis?

Not quite. Keisler, the former Yankee lefthander, is the new arm in town, but he won’t be with the major league club this year. The Mets signed him to a minor-league deal, and Keisler won’t report to the major league spring training, figuring instead to start in the high minors.

“You can’t have enough left-handed pitching,” GM Jim Duquette said.

Keisler, who turns 28 Tuesday, pitched in two games with the Padres last year, going 0-1 with a 12.00 ERA. He also pitched in 22 games in Triple-A with the affiliates of the Padres, Astros and Rangers, going a combined 7-6 with a 4.13 ERA.

Career-wise in the majors, Keisler’s record is 2-3 with a 7.62 ERA, and he has struggled with his control, striking out 47 hitters while walking 49. With the Yankees in 2000-01, Keisler made 14 starts, posting an 11.81 ERA in 2000 and a 6.22 mark in 2001.

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Duquette doesn’t think there was a favorite in the fifth starter’s derby, saying, “I wouldn’t put odds on any of them.”

The leading candidates are Scott Erickson, Aaron Heilman, Jeremy Griffiths and Grant Roberts.