Before the Mets can get serious about trades and free agency, there is the little matter of David Wright’s contract.
The Mets have needs at catcher, outfield and bullpen, but everything is secondary to completing a deal with Wright, whose agents are continuing discussions with team brass about a long-term contract extension for the All-Star third baseman.
“We haven’t talked about anybody,” a club source said yesterday, referring to the team’s needs. “We might have to concern ourselves with who is going to fill in at third base if David isn’t here.”
The Mets earlier this week exercised their 2013 option on Wright worth $16 million, but if a long-term deal can’t be struck, there is a real possibility Wright will be traded before next month’s Winter Meetings conclude.
Yesterday a source said negotiations between Wright’s agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, and the Mets were ongoing, but stuck in neutral. Wright, who will turn 30 next month, is believed to be seeking a seven-year contract in the $125 million range, which, coupled with his picked-up option (at either the current rate or a newly negotiated sum), would give him the largest deal in franchise history.
The Mets also picked up R.A. Dickey’s 2013 option, worth $5 million, earlier this week, but all indications are the team won’t begin serious negotiations with the knuckleballer until Wright’s situation is resolved.
There is the possibility the 38-year-old Dickey would want to know Wright’s status before agreeing to a new contract with the team. Trading Dickey also remains a possibility if a deal can’t be reached with the right-hander.
That leaves plenty of murkiness before the Mets can address other offseason needs.
A club source reaffirmed the Mets’ desire to find another catcher, preferably a right-handed bat, to share duties with Josh Thole next season, but said team brass hasn’t gotten as far as constructing a wish list.
Miguel Olivo and David Ross are free-agent options the Mets could pursue. The team hasn’t ruled out re-signing catcher Kelly Shoppach, who arrived in an August waiver deal with the Red Sox, but the preference, according to the source, would be to see if the Mets can first do better at the position.