By Jon Heyman, SI.com

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Mets are closing in on a two-year, $5 million deal for reliever Guillermo Mota, SI.com has learned.

The Mets previously enhanced their bullpen by obtaining Ambiorix Burgos from the Royals for starter Brian Bannister after losing Chad Bradford. Coming in to the Winter Meetings, they had only three sure relievers --- Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman and Pedro Feliciano.

Mota, 33, resuscitated his career after coming to the Mets from Cleveland on waivers late in the year, going 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA and earning the trust of Willie Randolph. Mota was 4-3 with a 4.53 ERA overall in 2006.

Both Mota and the Mets wanted to stay together, making talks go relatively easily. Or as Mota's agent Adam Katz put it the other day, "There's a lot of affection in these negotiations. That's a good recipe for a deal.''

Mota, who made about $3.2 million last year, will miss the first 50 games of 2007 after failing a drug test late last season and by rules will not be paid during his suspension.