MLB

Don’t count on Alderson signing Drew or talking Harvey

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Don’t scratch Matt Harvey from the Mets’ 2014 plans, but don’t thinking 2014 is all about Matt Harvey either.

General manager Sandy Alderson was adamant about that.

“The thing that I should try to make clear at the very outset of this camp is that the story for 2014 is not Matt Harvey,” Alderson said Thursday, his first day of visiting Mets pre-camp.

Fred and Jeff Wilpon also were present at the voluntary camp, but did not speak with reporters. The Mets’ first official workout with pitchers and catchers is scheduled for Monday.

“The story for 2014 is the other 25 players we will have active,” Alderson said. “We’re all interested in Matt’s progress, but we don’t intend it to be a storyline every time he decides to throw 40 pitches. I know he is anxious to get back and wants to be ready to go in September, and that’s fine. But we have an identity of interest with him and that is his long-term value to himself as a player and to us as a player. We’re going to focus on his rehab with that in mind, but at the same time, we don’t want it to be an overriding story line for this year. Obviously there is interest in it, but you won’t find me promoting it.”

Alderson did not rule out Harvey pitching for the Mets in 2014.

“Each of these injuries is different,” Alderson said of Harvey, who underwent Tommy John surgery on Oct. 22. “Each player is different. The return time can be very different. But that’s not our goal.”

Alderson also addressed the offseason roster changes.

“I think we’ve made a lot of progress. Every team you’d like to do one or two other things, but we’re very happy with where we are right now and we are looking forward to the beginning of spring training and seeing what we have,” he said.

He again said it was unlikely the Mets would sign free agent shortstop Stephen Drew.

Asked if there were any constraints on the payroll, which stands at $85 million, he said, “Every team has payroll constraints, including teams who have signed big free agents lately who now say, ‘I have no money.’

“I feel very confident our payroll will climb back up, but at the same time we need to have success on the field which drives attendance, which drives all those things. I understand it’s incumbent to have success on the field to do that.”

Asked again about payroll constraints, Alderson said, “If you’re referring to banks or owners or other interested parties, I think the answer clearly is no. There are no constraints on the payroll.”