The Mets face a ton of uncertainty heading into the offseason and Jeff Wilpon hopes they get some answers soon.
“We’re in a little bit of a transition because we have definite deficiencies that we’ve got to fill this offseason and the ability to do it,” the team’s COO said Tuesday. “I think that’s good.”
Whether it’s a success will be decided over the next several months, as general manager Sandy Alderson looks to retool a roster even Wilpon admitted includes few sure things.
“I think three of the starting pitchers we’re very pleased with,” Wilpon said, referring to Jon Niese, Dillon Gee and Zack Wheeler. “That, along with David [Wright], are the three or four we’re solidified on.”
That leaves a lot that’s not very solid. Wilpon pointed to the team’s “glut” of first basemen, saying the team had already received inquiries.
But there’s hardly a surefire stud at the position, or anyone who is likely to retrieve much in a trade. Lucas Duda and Ike Davis have been inconsistent, at best.
“Something’s got to happen there with the logjam,” said Wilpon, who added that logjam was among the reasons the Mets didn’t pursue Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu, who signed a six-year, $68 million deal with the White Sox last week.
As for the Mets’ current first basemen, Wilpon said: “There’s been some interest already. Where that interest goes and what that brings back, that you’ve got to let play out a little bit.”
He added the team may wait until the GM meetings next month or the Winter Meetings in December before activity really begins.
Wilpon was at a Boys and Girls Club in Garfield, N.J., which was hit hard a year ago by Hurricane Sandy. He joined the New Jersey Relief Fund and Jersey Cares to help repaint the building.
No matter what changes the organization makes, it won’t be able to replace Matt Harvey’s production after the right-hander had Tommy John surgery a week ago. Wilpon said he was pleased the young ace opted to have the procedure done.
“I think we all thought that it was the right move to do it, just had to let the individual come to that decision,” Wilpon said. “You can’t force surgery on somebody.”
And he said he’s confident Harvey will return to form, even if it’s not right away.
“I think 80 percent of Matt Harvey is pretty good, so we’ll take it,” Wilpon said. “You hope he’s back 100 percent [and] I have full confidence he’ll be back and as good as he was. How quickly that happens, somebody with higher authority can answer that.”
Harvey’s was hardly the only injury the Mets have had to deal with. Though Wilpon said the team has “great” doctors, he said the organization needs to be more attuned to spotting health problems early before they become more serious.
Harvey’s absence next season will no doubt make it more difficult for the Mets to finally start showing improvement on the field, though Wilpon didn’t think that would affect Alderson.
“I think he feels the pressure like we all do to get this turned around and start winning,” Wilpon said. “I don’t think there’s any added pressure on anybody.”
Alderson figures to have more money to work with as high-priced contracts for Johan Santana and Jason Bay come off the books. Still, there’s no guarantee the Mets will make a big splash in free agency.
“If the free agent doesn’t present itself, is there a trade where we might pick up somebody else’s larger salary? I can’t tell you which way it’s going to go right now,” Wilpon said. “It’s always been a part of the plan, to use the money coming off the books and try and improve the team.”