The Mets are believed to be close to a deal in which they would send a minor-league prospect to the Marlins for catcher Paul Lo Duca, according to a major-league source. The identity of the Met prospect was not immediately known ? but it's hard to envision it being Lastings Milledge, the jewel of their minor-league system. Getting Lo Duca would give the Mets a starting catcher and continue their extremely aggressive offseason so far. They have already added star free-agent closer Billy Wagner and slugging first baseman Carlos Delgado, the latter coming in a trade with the fire sale Marlins two weeks ago. Lo Duca batted .283 with six homers and 57 RBIs this past season and threw out 21 percent of runners trying to steal. The backstop, 34 in April, is owed $12.5M over the next two years.