Michael Bourn has gone from barely a consideration by the Mets to a “realistic” possibility for the team’s beleaguered outfield, a major league source told The Post last night.
According to the source, general manager Sandy Alderson has softened his position in recent weeks and seems more willing to part with the Mets’ top draft pick for 2013 — such compensation to the Braves would be necessary because they made a qualifying offer to Bourn this winter — in an effort to fix an outfield that has become a punch line, mostly to Alderson’s own jokes.
But the Mets also are lobbying the league to get their No. 11 overall pick protected (only the top 10 overall have such status), the source said, which would allow them to give up a second-round draft choice if they signed Bourn. The Mets contend their request should be considered because the Pirates moved ahead of them, to No. 9 in the draft, after failing to sign their top pick last year.
The 30-year-old Bourn is represented by Scott Boras, only complicating the Mets’ chances of landing the speedy outfielder. The Mets have not seriously considered going beyond two years for free agents this offseason, but likely would have to surpass that contract length for a player of Bourn’s caliber.
The Braves, Rangers and Mariners are among the other teams that still could sign Bourn.
A potential target was removed from the board yesterday, when the Cubs reportedly reached agreement with Scott Hairston on a two-year contract. Last week, the Mets rejected Hairston’s request of two years and $8 million. It is believed the Mets were looking to retain Hairston for one year and $2 million, with the idea he might have to fit as a platoon player.
Alderson’s efforts to land Justin Upton from the Diamondbacks hit a roadblock when Arizona asked for top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler. The Diamondbacks also have shopped Jason Kubel, but the Mets seek a more athletic outfielder and view Lucas Duda as a player who can be their version of Kubel, who hit 30 homers last season.
Bourn hit .274 with nine homers and 57 RBIs with 42 stolen bases in 2012 and was selected to his second All-Star team.
At last Saturday’s Baseball Writers’ dinner in Manhattan, Alderson made light of the situation by telling the audience he was in “serious” discussions with several outfielders.
“I met them on the Internet,” he said jokingly.
In November, the general manager responded to a question about his holes in left, center and right by quipping, “What outfield?”