Omar Minaya long has coveted Rangers second baseman Alfonso Soriano, but such an acquisition looks too costly for the Mets. A high-ranking official familiar with the talks called a deal for the ex-Yankee "increasingly doubtful." It's possible the Mets, while burning up the phone lines, won't make any major renovations by Sunday night's trading deadline. The Mets are looking for upgrades at first base, second base and in the bullpen, and obstacles exist at each position. The names most often mentioned in relief are closers Danys Baez of Tampa Bay and Jose Mesa of Pittsburgh. However, Devil Rays GM Chuck LaMar notoriously drives tough bargains. Plus, deputy GM Jim Duquette went on record last month, saying Devil Rays doctors "weren't straightforward with us" regarding the condition of Victor Zambrano's elbow at the time of last July's Scott Kazmir trade. As for the Pirates, the Mets have talked about Mesa, according to one NL source, but more recently the conversations have turned to lefty-hitting first baseman Daryle Ward (.258, 11 HR, 53 RBI). The Mets had been interested in Pittsburgh southpaws Mike Gonzalez and John Grabow, but Gonzalez is on the disabled list with an injured left knee that has sidelined him since June 22 and the Pirates don't seem intent on parting with either, anyway. The players most likely to be dealt from Pittsburgh are outfielder Matt Lawton, the former Met, and pitcher Mark Redman, neither of whom is a fit. The Mets need to address first base now or come winter, with the team highly unlikely to pick up Doug Mientkiewicz's $3.75 million option. Yet short of Lyle Overbay, whom Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin has said won't be dealt until the winter - if at all - the other first basemen available have unattractive, big contracts like those of Todd Helton (Rockies) and Mike Sweeney (Royals). A Mets insider recently said Cincinnati's Sean Casey hasn't been made available, and he's not a power hitter, anyway. At second, the Dodgers' Jeff Kent was mentioned in an Internet report. One major problem the Mets have encountered is a farm system that has failed to impress other teams.