Multiple sources with knowledge of the process told The Post yesterday that indications are the Mets have begun -— or will soon begin —- secret talks with the Reyes camp in hopes of reaching agreement in the coming weeks on a new contract with the All-Star shortstop.

– Mike Puma, N.Y. Post.

OK first of all, how much knowledge of the process could these multiple sources possibly have if they don’t know if the secret talks have even begun? I mean, I suppose it’s pretty impressive that they’re aware of the clandestine conversations at all, though.

But seriously, some secret.

I take it that in this context, “secret” actually means “something none of us is all that eager to blab to the media about because none of us feels like suffering a whole lot of nonsense while we endeavor a complicated contract negotiation in which we may not ultimately come to an agreement.”

Or maybe they’re legit secret meetings conducted in some musty underground hideaway, Skull-and-Bones style, and Sandy Alderson and the Greenbergs wear purple cloaks and paddle each other while reciting lines from Moneyball in Latin. In that case, good job by Puma for infiltrating.

Anyway, it certainly makes sense for the Mets to try to negotiate with Reyes before he hits the open market. It makes less sense for Reyes and his camp, but presumably his agents won’t accept much less than what they believe to be fair market value for the player. Plus there’s something to be said for capitalizing on Reyes’ outstanding first half while they can.