PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Despite saying he is comfortable with his pitching staff, Mets general manager Omar Minaya keeps tinkering with it.

After striking out on righthander John Thomson, Minaya yesterday reached a preliminary agreement with free-agent lefthander Scott Schoeneweis on a three-year, $10.8-million contract, according to a baseball official.

The Mets plan to use Schoeneweis, 33, out of the bullpen, joining lefthanders Pedro Feliciano and Billy Wagner. Schoeneweis spent last season with Toronto and Cincinnati. In 71 appearances, all in relief, he was 4-2 with a 4.88 ERA and four saves.

Thomson, who pitched briefly for the Mets in 2002, turned down an offer to return to Shea and signed with the Blue Jays on Tuesday for one year and $500,000. In a bizarre conference call with reporters yesterday, Thomson said he didn't sign with the Mets in part because he didn't want to pitch to Paul Lo Duca and didn't trust the defense of Cliff Floyd, whom Thomson apparently didn't know is no longer a Met.

"As far as just looking at Paul Lo Duca across the field, I'm not really into how he acts behind the plate," Thomson said. Later, he added, "Just watching the Mets' outfield, if Cliff Floyd is still there, it's not a real good fit for him out there. He can hit the ball, but as far as defense, he's a little shaky."

Floyd is a free agent and has been replaced by Moises Alou. Thomson and Lo Duca never have been teammates.