Shane Reynolds, released by the Astros last month, seemed to be just about signed, sealed and delivered to the Mets this weekend -- until the commissioner's office apparently vetoed the structure of two tentative contracts, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported.

	Reynolds

The Mets wanted to sign Reynolds to a minor-league contract that would not have required the club to place him on the 40-man big-league roster immediately. That arrangement also would have allowed the Mets to guarantee Reynolds less up front than the $300,000 major-league minimum. The Astros are already on the hook for the $1 million they guaranteed him before releasing Reynolds.

But both deals also would have included an option or buyout for 2004. And according to sources familiar with the negotiations, the Mets were told they couldn't include an option year unless they signed Reynolds to a major-league contract. And the Mets aren't prepared to do that at the moment, in part because they don't have a roster opening.

Reynolds had been putting off other interested teams because going to the Mets would have reunited him with his old manager (Art Howe) and pitching coach (Vern Ruhle). Now, however, Reynolds and agent Tommy Tanzer have told clubs they're reopening negotiations with everyone.

So the list of Reynolds' potential destinations includes the Red Sox, Dodgers, Reds and Mariners, along with the Cardinals and Braves. He's expected to make a decision by the end of the week.