Mets rumors: Carl Pavano, Francisco Liriano, Shaun Marcum

The New York Mets have a large hole in their starting rotation where a Cy Young winner used to be and are exploring several options on the free-agent and trade markets to put an adequate replacement in place, reports Ken Davidoff of the New York Post:

According to multiple industry sources, the Mets have reached out to the representative for Carl Pavano ... as one of many lines cast in an effort to re-stock their starting rotation following R.A. Dickey’s trade to Toronto...

The club also has reached out to left-hander Francisco Liriano and many of the other remaining free-agent pitchers, including 2011 and 2012 Met Chris Young and Shaun Marcum, who spent the last two seasons with Milwaukee.

The Mets also have engaged in trade discussions with the Dodgers, who have former Met Chris Capuano andAaron Harang.

Pavano, 37, had a rough go of things in New York during his three seasons with the Yankees, so the Big Apple may not be at the top of his list of preferred destinations. The right-hander may be one of the Mets' cheaper options, however, as he is coming off an injury-shortened 2012 season.

Liriano and Marcum are two of the three biggest names (the other being Kyle Lohse) remaining on the market, so the Mets may have some fierce competition if they want to sign either pitcher.

The Mets are not likely to make a move of any of the above-mentioned players until the new year rolls around, as things typically slow to a crawl news-wise as the holidays approach.