Nearly three weeks into free agency and with a gaping hole at closer, the Mets’ only major move so far has been re-signing journeyman outfielder Fernando Tatis.
But Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon isn’t worried about the glacial pace being set by GM Omar Minaya.
“Omar is very comfortable with where we are and he’s ready to take care of business,” Wilpon said yesterday.
“He’s on the phone all the time now with other GMs trying to set things up, and as long as he’s comfortable, he’s who we have the faith in. He knows where he wants to go, and we’re going to let him do that.”
Wilpon spoke during a media tour of Citi Field, which appears to be at least 80 percent completed and remains firmly on schedule to open in time for next season.
The pitcher closing games for them in their new stadium was supposed to have been identified and signed by now, but Minaya is working slowly in his pursuit of top targets Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes. Wilpon, the son of Met owner Fred Wilpon, indicated Minaya’s pace could pick up rapidly at the winter meetings that kick off this Sunday in Las Vegas.
“He’s trying to get some things [in place] so he’s ready when we get to the winter meetings and can go from there,” Wilpon said of Minaya.
Trevor Hoffman’s agent, Rick Thurman, told The Post yesterday there have been talks with the Mets about meeting with the free-agent closer in Las Vegas, in New York or perhaps both. The 41-year-old Hoffman, the all-time saves leader, had 30 saves and a 3.77 ERA last season with the Padres. The Mets may also meet with Fuentes, a Thurman client as well.
It’s not just the Mets – the entire free-agent market in baseball has been chilled in large part by the economic crisis.
“When you look at where the economy is right now, it’s not unexpected that we’re slow to get going,” Wilpon said. “Everybody is taking a little bit of a cautious approach. Maybe once somebody does a big signing, that might start a flurry of them.”
Wilpon sidestepped questions about the size of the Mets’ payroll in 2009 after he approved a franchise-record $141 million budget last season.
Additional reporting by Mark Hale
bhubbuch@nypost.com