Havana ? The president of the International Baseball Federation says major league baseball could help ensure that the sport stays in the Olympics beyond 2008 by allowing its players to compete.

“If the big leagues say they will send their best players to the Olympic Games in Beijing, the problem will be resolved,” said Aldo Notari, who is here for the Intercontinental Baseball Cup. “As part of our world fight in favor of baseball, we are trying to persuade the big leagues to compete in the Olympic Games with their star ball players.”

The IOC’s program committee has recommended that baseball be eliminated from the Olympics after the 2008 games in Beijing. IOC president Jacques Rogge said the issue would probably not be decided until next year.

Mets general manager Steve Phillips spent six hours with Glavine, his wife and agent. The Glavines flew into White Plains, N.Y., on Thursday and were given a tour of Westchester County and Greenwich, Conn., an area where many Mets live. They then came into the city and had lunch with Phillips, other Mets executives, manager Art Howe, and pitchers John Franco and Al Leiter.

Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg stopped by to help recruit Glavine, as did New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter and hockey hall of famer Rod Gilbert.

Glavine then went to Philadelphia, where he took in an NHL game. The hockey fan was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings out of high school. He planned to meet with Phillies officials today.

The Mets and Phillies have made three-year offers to the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner worth about $9 to $10 million annually. The Braves offered a two-year deal with an option for 2005.

• Parrish to manage Mud Hens: Former Detroit manager Larry Parrish was hired Thursday as manager of the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. Parrish replaces Bruce Fields, who was promoted to hitting coach for the Tigers.

• Wells’ assailant convicted: A man was convicted of assault Thursday for punching Yankees pitcher David Wells and knocking out two of his teeth during an fight in a diner. Rocco Graziosa was acquitted of two other charges after a weeklong trial in Manhattan Criminal Court. The jury deliberated less than three hours. The 27-year-old Graziosa faces up to a year in jail when he is sentenced Jan. 15. He will remain free on $1,500 bail and was ordered to stay away from Wells.

• Williams must decide: Matt Williams will decide today whether to accept a trade to Colorado. Arizona has a deal in place that would send Williams and three others to the Rockies for outfielder Larry Walker. However, Williams and Walker must waive no-trade clauses for the trade to go through.