Mets to take a look at Chapman

The Mets will be one of a number of teams attending Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman's bullpen session next week in Houston.

Though the Mets have not been as public in their pursuit of the 21-year-old international free agent as the Yankees, Red Sox or Angels, they did meet with the lefty back in October and have maintained interest. A Mets official said that the team will be in attendance next week, when Chapman is to work out in front of interested teams in Houston.

Aside from the Red Sox and Yankees, who seem to be players for nearly every big international free agent, the Orioles and Tigers have also shown interest in adding Chapman, while the Phillies and Royals -- like the Mets -- say the pitcher is at least on their radar.

Chapman, whose fastball has been clocked at 100 mph, is expected to land a contract comparable to the four-year, $15.1-million pact that Stephen Strasburg, the top overall pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, received from the Nationals this year.

--Anthony DiComo