The Mets have until midnight tonight to sign Hisanori Takahashi or lose the right to negotiate with the left-hander until May 15, which would be moot because he’d be gone by then.

If reports are true, that Takahashi wants a three-year deal at $4.5 million a season, then it is a sure bet the Mets will let him walk. The Mets want to offer a one-year contract with an option with a total value of $3 million.

So, the difference between what the total Takahashi wants (at least $13.5 million) and what the Mets want to give ($3 million) is $10.5 million. Despite how versatile and productive Takahashi was for the Mets last season, considering the potential dollars he wants and his age at 36, I can’t see the Mets bringing him back.