Slugger Mo Vaughn has agreed to a restructured contract with the Mets, with the expectation that the club would pass the savings on to Juan Gonzalez.

        But an industry source told the The Record of Bergen County, N.J., Wednesday night that the Players Association objected to some of the language in the new contract. At least temporarily, the deal's official announcement is pending a revision.

        According to the source, the Mets finalized a deal with Vaughn's agent, Jeff Moorad, early Wednesday evening. Right-hander Kevin Appier is set to go to the Anaheim Angels in exchange for the first baseman, who would provide a much-needed lefty bat behind Mike Piazza.

        The Mets would say only that “talks are ongoing.” In a short statement, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said talks “will continue overnight and into (Thursday). There will be no announcement (Wednesday night) regarding Mo Vaughn.”

        Adding Vaughn and Gonzalez would finalize the Mets' offensive face-lift, enabling them to boast the most dynamic and dangerous lineup in the club's 40-year history.

        This, after the Mets scored a major-league-low 642 runs last season.

        As the Mets' interest in Vaughn intensified during the weekend, the club sent word to Gonzalez that it had not forgotten about him, according to a baseball executive with knowledge of the situation.

        While the Mets negotiated past the reported noon deadline to rework Vaughn's hefty contract, the Mets were simultaneously seeking to fit Gonzalez into their outfield.

        The California-based Moorad represents both players, and the Mets have shown by far the greatest interest in Gonzalez and Vaughn, a Norwalk, Conn., native who yearns to return to the East Coast.

        “Mo is excited about the possibility of playing in New York,” Moorad told the Associated Press on Wednesday, “and as a result, we are trying our best to accommodate everyone involved.”

        Though the figures were not known Wednesday night, it was believed the Mets were working to defer almost half of the $10 million owed Vaughn next season.

        SELE TO ANGELS:

        Anaheim signed free agent pitcher Aaron Sele, who won 69 games over the past four seasons with the American League Western Division rival Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.

        Sele, a 31-year-old right-hander, had a 15-5 record with a 3.60 ERA in 33 starts for the Mariners last season. Seattle went 13-0 in his first 13 starts to capture the AL West title with a league-record 116 victories but lost all three of his playoff starts.

        Sele agreed to a three-year contract with the Angels. The team didn't disclose financial terms and Sele's agent, Tom Reich, couldn't immediately be reached.

        Sele, who made $7 million last season, has a 107-68 record with a 4.33 ERA over his nine-year major-league career with Seattle, Texas and Boston.

        MARINERS:

        Free agent outfielder Ruben Sierra signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract with Seattle on Wednesday.

        Sierra, a switch hitter, hit .291 with 23 home runs and 67 RBI in 94 games with Texas last season. He began last season with the Cancun Lobstermen in Mexico before rejoining the Rangers. He is a career .270 hitter with 263 homers and 1,121 RBI.

        Sierra's first few seasons were promising. In 1987-89, he averaged 27 homers and 108 RBIs. By the late '90s, he had played with the Athletics, Yankees, Tigers, Reds, Blue Jays and White Sox, and his playing time and numbers diminished.

        In 1999, he played with Atlantic City of the unaffiliated Independence League, and he began the next season with the Cancun Lobstermen in Mexico before rejoining the Rangers.

Record-breaking Bonds AP's Male Athlete of Year Baseball notebook: Mets trying for Vaughn, Gonzalez

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