MLB

Penny-pinching Mets sign Carrasco, Paulino

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Wait ’til next winter — but just don’t dream too big.

On a day Sandy Alderson tweaked the Mets’ roster for next season by agreeing to terms, according to sources, with reliever D.J. Carrasco and catcher Ronny Paulino, the general manager was dropping hints about 2012 that point to a payroll reduction.

Carlos Beltran, Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, Jose Reyes and perhaps Francisco Rodriguez will come off the books following next season, giving the Mets as much as $65 million in salary relief on five players alone. But Alderson, who is on a tight budget for 2011, isn’t dreaming about a new mansion, yacht and helicopter for his roster.

“Next year if $50 million comes off it’s very unlikely we would re-spend the 50,” Alderson said at the Winter Meetings.

The GM says spending that kind of money would limit the Mets’ potential financial flexibility for 2013 and beyond. It means the Mets’ payroll, which won’t increase significantly in 2011 from last year’s mark of $130 million, could dip into the 120s or lower for 2012, even if the team adds free agents next winter.

“Let’s say arguably we have $50 or $60 million coming off next year,” Alderson said. “Do I think it would even be prudent to invest that full 50 or 60 in a situation that binds us going forward so we’re only in the market every three years when this lump sum comes off our books? That’s not how I want to approach it.”

Beltran, Perez, Castillo and Reyes will earn a combined $47.5 million next season in the final year of their respective contracts. Rodriguez has an option for 2012 for $17.5 million, contingent upon him finishing 55 games in 2011.

For this offseason, Alderson will stick to a tight budget.

Carrasco, 33, received a two-year contract for $2.5 million. Though Alderson wanted to avoid multiyear deals, he indicated he wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to multiple years if the price was low enough. The righty Carrasco pitched for the Pirates and Diamondbacks last season, appearing in 63 games while posting a 3.68 ERA.

The 29-year-old Paulino received a one-year deal worth $1.3 million. He will have a carryover suspension of eight games after receiving a 50-game ban last season with the Marlins following a positive test for performance enhancing drugs. Paulino hit .259 with four homers and 37 RBIs in 91 games. He is expected to become Josh Thole’s backup.

The Mets might not be finished, as they continue to search for rotation help, with Chris Young the primary target. Alderson said he has no regrets that the Mets aren’t in position to make a run at Cliff Lee.

“We’re nicely set up at this point to be active in future years,” Alderson said. “One of the things we’re trying to do this year is not compromise that. We’re trying to be very mindful of the value of that flexibility going forward. We want to be in the market every year.”

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The Mets completed their interviews for hitting coach by speaking with Don Long and Dave Hudgens about the position. A day earlier, Andy Van Slyke met with team officials about the job. Long was previously the Pirates’ hitting coach — he is tied closely to Jason Bay. Hudgens previously worked as the hitting coach for the Athletics. The Mets reportedly will hire Jon Debus as their bullpen coach. Debus has a long history with manager Terry Collins dating to the minor leagues in the Dodgers organization. . . . Chad MacDonald was named the amateur scouting director and Dick Scott the minor league field coordinator.

mpuma@nypost.com