The Mets' front office already is planning an offseason exit strategy for Matsui if a willing taker for at least half of his $8-million contract for 2006 can be found. One team official scoffed at an ESPN report last week that had Matsui being claimed on waivers, which meant that another team would have been willing to take on the Japanese infielder's contract, currently among the worst in baseball. Matsui cleared waivers, with no team even nibbling for a potential trade, according to a person familiar with the situation. The oft-injured Matsui has had a miserable time with the Mets, and moving to second base for this season hasn't been the remedy many thought it would be. Instead, Matsui lost his job to Miguel Cairo, who had been signed to be a bench player, and the Mets have no interest in keeping Matsui around next season as a substitute. Although Matsui has a limited no-trade clause that allows him to be dealt only to the Yankees, Angels or Dodgers, the Mets believe he might be open to negotiation, especially if another team is thinking about giving him another try at shortstop. "I think he'll be a better player outside New York," one National League executive said.