While the Mets await John Olerud’s decision on a contract proposal, GM Steve Phillips is so unsure about when Olerud will make a decision that he is planning to offer salary arbitration to the free-agent first baseman, a move that will enable him to keep negotiating into January.
If the Mets don’t offer Olerud arbitration by Tuesday, he could not re-sign with them from Dec. 8 through April 30. By offering him arbitration, they could negotiate through Jan. 8.
Phillips has made an offer, as have the Mariners. Seattle GM Pat Gillick said the “ball was in [Olerud’s] court,” and Phillips said the same goes from his side, meaning he had made his offer and was waiting for Olerud to respond.
He wasn’t sure if Joe McIntosh, the agent for Olerud, would ask for more alterations. The Mets have said they will match any reasonable offer from the Mariners, but McIntosh has asked Phillips to make adjustments in his proposal that would make the real value of the proposal equal to the Mariners’ in real value.
That sounds like a very good sign, that Olerud wants to return to New York and is just trying to get the value of his deal increased, but the Mets are at a loss as to what Olerud will do.
“I have to wait for guidance from their side,” Phillips said. “If there are other things that need to be addressed, we’ll listen. If not, it’s time to make a decision.”