Update 1/26 3:00 pm

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the obvious via Twitter,

Mets’ next target, after losing Sheets, looks to be Smoltz. They have not been aggressive on Garland, according to a source.

Adam Rubin also reported that the Mets were engaged in aggressive dialogue this morning even before the Sheets signing went down.

Update 1/25 3:30 pm:

According to Adam Rubin (Welcome back Adam!) of the Daily News, the Mets are also actively engaged in dialogue with veteran starter/reliever John Smoltz.

The sense I get is that the Mets are very likely to add one more starting pitcher. They’ve been in active dialogue with John Smoltz about a starting role, although it’s hard to handicap whether it’s Smoltz, Ben Sheets or Jon Garland they ultimately sign.
The Mets are clearly running out of time. If they are serious about acquiring a starting pitcher, they need to get something done. Two of their three options have health issues in Smoltz and Sheets, and it would have been nice to have had one of them at mini camp where Warthen, Manuel and the trainers could have established a rapport and even worked with them a little. 24 Days until pitchers and catchers report.

Original Post 3:16 PM

In a new post to his blog at SI.com, Jon Heyman has an extensive update on some new developments regarding free agent starter, Ben Sheets.

The A’s, Rangers and Mets are among teams considering free agent pitcher Ben Sheets, who raised his value with what was described by several scouts as an excellent showcase last week in Monroe, La.
Sheets is still seeking a guarantee of $8 million for 2010, and Heyman believes that after the way he threw last week he may get it. He adds that scouts who witnessed the showcase said Sheets was throwing 87 to 92 mph and had his old curveball. Still, $8 million guaranteed sounds very excessive for a picther who hasn’t lasted 200 innings since 2004 due to a myriad of health concerns.

Last week, some journalists speculated that Texas might be in the lead, but that may no longer be the case as the recent sale of the team may have complicated that situation for now.

The Mets’ interest in Sheets came suddenly after Joel Pineiro, whom they had targeted, rejected their offer and signed with the Los Angeles Angels.