The Daily News has learned that Mets general manager Omar Minaya is laying the foundation for a potential trade with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for closer Danys Baez and first baseman Aubrey Huff. At the GM meetings in California yesterday, a Devil Rays executive told The News that Minaya initiated discussions about a deal for Baez or Huff, or both. The executive also said the Tampa contingent found the preliminary talks interesting and worth pursuing. The most-likely scenario in which the Mets and Devil Rays would consummate such a deal - Tampa wants pitching in return - would be if the Mets fail in their bid to land Wagner. But even if they do get him, it could serve them in other ways. The Red Sox need relief pitching and a first baseman, and Baez or Huff could be used as part of a package in a trade for Ramirez. The Mets tried to pull of a similar type of trade for Ramirez in July. The power-hitting Huff has averaged 101 RBI the past three seasons and he plays a fair first base. Baez saved 41 games this year and could bolster a Mets bullpen that may lose both Braden Looper and Roberto Hernandez. "It's the perfect fallback," one baseball official said.