PORT ST. LUCIE — Mets GM Steve Phillips and manager Bobby Valentine think that Charlie Hayes is good enough to be a major leaguer, just not a Met.

“I think Charlie Hayes could play in the major leagues,” Phillips said. “If we had a 26-man roster, then he would probably be on our team.”

But the roster is only made up of 25 players and with the more versatile Melvin Mora and Kurt Abbott in his way, the 34-year-old Hayes was let go by the Mets yesterday.

Hayes, who was hitting .386 this spring, is undecided if he will continue his playing career. Before he left for camp, he promised his three children that it would be either the Mets or back to their Houston home.

If this is the end, Hayes will finish his career with a .264 average, 135 homers and 690 RBIs.

However, he and his wife, Gelinda, had second thoughts yesterday about Hayes calling it a career. Hayes said that four or five unspecified teams had contacted his agent. He added that he will only go to a team that can win.

Hayes, who is best known in New York for catching the last out of the 1996 World Series for the Yankees, did accomplish something here.

“The one thing I found out is I know I can still play,” said Hayes, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist last season. “I had some doubts. My hand was bothering me. I hit .205 last year, but I still thought I was productive. But I just didn’t know if I was healthy enough to play because my wrist bothered me all winter.”

Hayes wouldn’t have been released yesterday if he hadn’t gone to talk with Valentine yesterday morning. Hayes could tell that the numbers game wasn’t in his favor. He went to confirm this with the manager.

“I didn’t think that would send him packing,” Valentine said. “I probably would’ve been less honest, I think.”

Valentine told Hayes it was unlikely he would make it because of the versatility of the other players. Hayes took it well.

“I’m not bitter,” Hayes said before later adding with a smile, “Maybe I’ll come back to haunt them.”