MET NOTES
PHILADELPHIA – Tony Milledge wants his son, Lastings, to begin his professional career. He says the Mets have other ideas about their 2003 first-round pick.
“They really haven’t given us an offer,” the senior Milledge told The Post. “It seems like they’re running.”
Lastings Milledge, selected 12th overall, is a five-tool outfielder who’s threatening to attend Manatee (Fla.) Community College on Aug. 24. He’s spending his afternoons coaching Little Leaguers at his Florida high school. The Milledges, who are being advised by Tommy Tanzer’s agency, are exasperated by the lack of progress.
So far, the Mets have lowballed Milledge with an initial offer of $1.625 million and another in the $1.75 million range that they were told, “Take it or leave it.”
His father, who had two other sons reach pro ball, has never endured negotiations like this. Milledge is the only other unsigned first-rounder besides the top four picks.
The commissioner’s office has instituted the idea of slotting, where clubs are told what’s appropriate for each selection. Milledge fell in the $1.7 million range, but No. 16 pick Jeff Allison just signed for $1.85 million.
When Lastings went up to New Jersey to play in a national All-Star game recently, nobody from the Mets met them during the three-four day visit.
“Didn’t nobody greet us, nobody said hello,” Tony Milledge said. “Right there, it’s weird.”
In fairness, former general manager Steve Phillips was about to be fired then, and interim GM Jim Duquette has made unloading veterans his top priority.
Assistant GM Gary LaRocque, who doesn’t have substantial clout in the organization, has been handling the process. Tanzer has a better relationship with Duquette.
* Grant Roberts (shoulder tendinitis) probably will rejoin the Mets next week. The oft-injured reliever is finishing up a rehab stint in Triple-A Norfolk.
* Timo Perez didn’t play yesterday due to a mild left calf strain.
Jason Phillips has a 10-game hitting streak.