NEW YORK -- The circumstances that brought Scott Boras to New York City this week were certainly beneficial for the Yankees. And by week's end, they proved informational -- if not entirely beneficial -- for the Mets, as well.

Boras and an aide met with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, general manager Omar Minaya and assistant general manager John Ricco at Citi Field on Wednesday afternoon. And the group, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions, spoke about "all of" Boras' free agents.

That certainly includes Derek Lowe, the top starting pitcher remaining on the free-agent market, to whom the Mets recently extended a three-year, $36 million offer. And it would presumably also include Oliver Perez, another starting-pitching option, and Manny Ramirez, an outfielder who remains a long shot to land with the Mets.

It has become clear in recent weeks that Lowe is the Mets' top choice to fill the hole in their rotation, though it has become equally clear that Boras is willing to wait -- a familiar tactic for him -- in order to secure the best possible deal.

The Mets have reportedly been unwilling to immediately raise their offer in hopes that Lowe's other suitors -- the Red Sox, Braves and Phillies among them -- might decide not to match it. But the Mets are also aware that Lowe's final price should land somewhere between the $36 million that they offered and the "Barry Zito money" -- a long-term contract worth well over $100 million -- that Boras originally requested.

Boras was in New York this week for the Yankees' news conference to introduce first baseman Mark Teixeira, and he used the opportunity to visit the Mets' brass in person. Teixeira recently signed an eight-year deal with the Yankees worth $180 million.

Lowe, 35, finished 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA last season, his fourth with the Dodgers. He has produced a 3.75 ERA in a 12-year career split between starting and closing.

Only if the Mets do not land Lowe are they likely to seriously pursue Perez, their former pitcher and clear second choice. And even if they do sign one of those two, they are likely to also try and sign either Randy Wolf or Tim Redding for insurance and depth.

Currently, their starting rotation consists of Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey and John Maine -- presumably in that order -- followed by rookies Jonathon Niese and Bobby Parnell. The latter two are expected to compete for the fifth starter's role, assuming another free-agent signing between now and Spring Training.