Even as the Mets are continuing to negotiate for the services of pitcher Derek Lowe, they have made an offer for right-hander Tim Redding, the New York Post reported in its Thursday editions.

Citing an unnamed source, Redding, 30, who pitched this past season for the Nationals, would compete for the fifth spot in the Mets' rotation, the newspaper said.

The news comes even as Mets general manager Omar Minaya met on Wednesday in New York with Scott Boras, the agent for free agents Lowe, left-hander Oliver Perez and left-fielder Manny Ramirez, among others.

"[Minaya's] thinking is he would like to bring in six or seven starters this spring, because of what happened last year," the source said, citing all the injuries to the Mets' starting rotation in 2008.

The Mets have offered Lowe a three-year deal worth $36 million. Terms of the offer to Redding were not disclosed.

Redding was 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA in 33 starts for the Nationals this past season, his seventh in the Major Leagues. He's also pitched for the Yankees, Padres and Astros, and was Houston's 20th-round pick in the 1997 First-Year Player Draft.