The dollars and sense might say David Wright is close to securing potentially the largest contract in Mets history, but not so fast says the All-Star third baseman’s camp.
After weeks of public silence, Wright and his agent Seth Levinson emerged Tuesday night with the mission of dispelling the notion an agreement between the Mets and Wright is near.
This after sources indicated the Mets have offered Wright an extension that would keep him signed through 2020 and potentially surpass, in terms of overall dollars, the $137.5 million contract Johan Santana received from the Mets before the 2008 season.
“We don’t anticipate a deal any time soon,” Levinson told the website MLB Trade Rumors, adding that discussions with the Mets were ongoing.
Wright told the website he was disappointed with “inaccuracies” that had been reported.
“I wish I could elaborate, but it was important to me from the very beginning that these negotiations remain confidential and private,” Wright said in an email to The Post. “I plan on sticking to that.”
According to an industry source with knowledge of the negotiations, deferred money is an issue. So the $119 million-129 million the Mets are willing to pay Wright for seven years (making the deal $135M-$145M counting the 2013 season) beginning in 2014 could translate into significantly less in present-day dollars, depending upon how much is deferred.
The Mets’ initial offer to Wright was six years and $100 million, but the team increased both the length of contract and dollar amount in recent days. The source said Santana’s franchise record $137.5 million deal is a “benchmark” Wright and his agents are clearly pursuing.
Carlos Beltran ($119 million) is the only Mets player other than Santana to have landed a nine-figure contract.
The latest offer from the Mets would take Wright to the precipice of his 38th birthday and allow him to finish his career in the only major league uniform he has known.
“Imagine the Atlanta Braves without Chipper Jones, I just can’t.” R.A. Dickey said yesterday, when asked about Wright. “I think they’re going to reach an agreement.”
The Mets remain confident an agreement will be reached and have not seriously considered trading him, according to a source. Both Wright and Dickey — who is also seeking a contract extension — have said they will not negotiate with the club once the season begins.
Dickey Tuesday acknowledged the club has offered him an extension, but said he hasn’t heard back from the Mets since making a recent counter-offer to general manager Sandy Alderson.
“Hopefully it ends up in a place where I’m a Met and everybody is happy about that,” Dickey said at Harlem Dream School, where he participated in a book campaign.
According to sources, Dickey and the Mets have discussed a two-year extension, but the club remains open to trading him if a deal can’t be struck. Last week, team COO Jeff Wilpon mentioned the possibility of keeping both Dickey and Wright to play out their contracts in 2013 if new deals can’t be reached.
Dickey said he would be surprised if Wright doesn’t remain with the Mets long-term.
Dickey said he expects to have a clearer picture on his status by the time next week’s winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn., conclude.
“I think that’s definitely going to put it in the crock pot with the temperature turned up,” Dickey said. “A lot of things usually get done around the winter meetings and everybody’s in one place and whenever you’re talking to somebody face to face, there’s more of an urgency involved.”
A club source said if Dickey receives a contract extension it would “almost definitely” eliminate the possibility he is traded this offseason. But Dickey hinted he might seek some form of no-trade protection in a new deal.
“At the end of the day, this is where I want to be, but I have to preface that by saying you never want to be taken advantage of,” Dickey said. “That’s been part of my story, too, in a lot of different ways, so hopefully we’re going to reach an accord.”
As much as Dickey would like to remain with the Mets, he says it would be understandable if Alderson traded him.
“I get it,” Dickey said. “If Sandy Alderson traded me tomorrow and got prospects for me, I get it. That’s what he is employed to do. He’s employed to search and look for every opportunity to make the New York Mets better.”
mpuma@nypost.com