LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — About the only thing certain pertaining to the Mets’ pursuit of another starting pitcher is general manager Sandy Alderson’s hesitancy to spend big.
Alderson met with the agent for pitcher Bartolo Colon on Monday at the Winter Meetings, according to an industry source, but the veteran right-hander probably doesn’t fit the Mets’ budget. The same could be said for veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo, who figures to command a multi-year deal.
“We would be hesitant to give a multi-year contract, but it doesn’t mean we wouldn’t,” Alderson said.
The 40-year-old Colon, who went 18-6 with a 2.65 ERA last season for Oakland, stands to receive a contract worth more than $10 million for 2014, likely keeping the Mets on the sidelines.
The hefty right-hander won the Cy Young award with the Angels in 2005, but failed to reach double-digit wins again until winning 10 games in 2012, a season cut short by a 50-game ban for using performance-enhancing drugs.
It has left the Mets looking toward more realistic options — one of which could be Johan Santana, who is recovering from a second surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his left shoulder.
According to a source, Alderson has expressed interest in Santana with the idea of potentially signing him to a low-base, high-incentive deal. The 34-year-old lefty received a $5.5 million buyout last month on the final year of the $137.5 million contract he signed with the Mets before the 2008 season.
But Alderson isn’t alone in his interest: The Orioles and Twins are among the handful of teams that have been linked to Santana.
Alderson also still has interest in Daisuke Matsuzaka and is expected to listen on the possibility of adding veteran Freddy Garcia, who has received a minor league offer from the Braves, but is seeking a major league deal.
The Mets have Zack Wheeler, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee penciled in for the 2014 rotation, with two spots open. Jenrry Mejia could be a contender for one of those spots.
Alderson had previously indicated he was against the idea of starting the season with a prospect such as Rafael Montero or Jacob deGrom in the starting rotation, but Monday said he may be forced to reconsider.
“Ideally we would like to ease guys in, but these might not be ideal times to be able to do that,” Alderson said.
The GM’s splash for the offseason came last week, when Curtis Granderson agreed to a four-year contract worth $60 million. The veteran outfielder passed his physical on Monday and will be introduced at a press conference Tuesday at the Winter Meetings.
Alderson is still exploring trade possibilities for Ike Davis or Lucas Duda — the Brewers met with the Mets on Monday, according to a source, to discuss the first basemen — but no deal appeared imminent.
Also, the general manager — who has strongly hinted he expects Ruben Tejada to regain the starting shortstop job — is expected to meet this week with the agent for veteran infielder Cesar Izturis.
The Mets could look to sign Izturis for a backup role and allow him to mentor Tejada, whose work ethic came into question last season. Izturis also has extensive experience playing shortstop, and the Mets are without a backup if Tejada is given the starting job.
Alderson is shopping Daniel Murphy, and the Orioles are among the teams showing interest, according to sources. The GM was asked if he would be comfortable starting the season with Eric Young Jr. as the second baseman.
“We would be comfortable if we had a number of candidates we could sort through during the course of spring training,” Alderson said. “Certainly, E.Y. would be one of those. Wilmer Flores might be another. Is that enough? I don’t know.”