MLB

Mets will pay price for not spending big dough

Is that it?

After all the talk of the payroll flexibility the Mets would have heading into 2014, the additions of Curtis Granderson, Chris Young and Bartolo Colon represented a small step for the organization but hardly the kind of splash needed to enter the playoff conversation.

What the Mets didn’t do — mainly, upgrade at shortstop and first base — loomed larger during the offseason than the $87.25 million they committed to Granderson, Young and Colon.

It leaves the Mets in the familiar position of needing to catch every break if they are to end a playoff drought that dates to 2006. Among NL clubs, only the Marlins have a longer drought.

A healthy Matt Harvey certainly would give the Mets a better chance, but even if the stud right-hander returns early from Tommy John surgery — say August, as he says is possible — is that enough time to save what has the look of a sixth straight losing season in Flushing?

Ruben Tejada has become the starting shortstop by default, after the club missed on free agent Jhonny Peralta and decided Stephen Drew was over-priced by agent Scott Boras.

And first base remains as muddled as ever. First, general manager Sandy Alderson overvalued Ike Davis and decided to keep him after not receiving the top pitching prospect he had sought from teams such as the Brewers, Orioles and Rays.

Then, Davis and his main competitor for the position, Lucas Duda, sustained injuries early in spring training, leaving the position up for grabs heading to the final week of camp.

The silver lining is the young pitching talent that could give the Mets a chance to eventually rise from the dead. Zack Wheeler had an impressive rookie season and could join forces with top pitching prospects Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero to give the Mets a special cluster of arms once Harvey returns. The wave behind Syndergaard and Montero includes highly-regarded left-hander Steven Matz.

But the Mets probably can’t win on young arms alone.

Here’s a look at the 2014 Mets:

Mets essentials

MOST IMPORTANT EVERYDAY PLAYER: The Mets need David Wright on the field for more than the 112 games he played last season. Before his late-season hamstring injury, Wright was showing he still can carry a lineup.

Zack Wheeler

MOST IMPORTANT PITCHER: With Matt Harvey sidelined — perhaps for all of 2014 — as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery, Zack Wheeler’s continued development is essential. The Mets are dreaming of the day they will have Harvey, Wheeler and top prospect Noah Syndergaard highlighting the rotation.

WILL HAVE A BIGGER YEAR THAN EXPECTED: The expectations couldn’t be much lower for Ruben Tejada after a dreadful 2013 season, so if he can hit .260 and not kill the Mets defensively, he will seem like an All-Star.

MOST LIKELY TO DISAPPOINT: Chris Young received a one-year contract worth $7.25 million under the premise he can bring power to the lineup. But Young has been in a downward spiral since 2010, when he was an All-Star for the Diamondbacks.

KEY CALL-UP: Syndergaard is probably ready to pitch in the major leagues but will begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas in part to delay the start of his arbitration clock. The right-handed fireballer probably will be wearing a Mets uniform by June or July.

BIGGEST MANAGERIAL DECISION: How will Terry Collins juggle the outfield and leadoff spot? Eric Young Jr. is probably the team’s best leadoff option, but his inclusion in the lineup will keep Juan Lagares on the bench or in the minors. Lagares emerged last season as a premier defensive center fielder.

DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: Josh Satin turns out to become the Mets’ best first-base option.

SURE TO MAKE FANS GRUMBLE: Stephen Drew signs with another club and becomes an All-Star shortstop.

WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IF: Ruben Tejada hits .300, a first-baseman delivers 30 homers, Travis d’Arnaud becomes the stud catcher the Mets thought they were receiving, the starting rotation stays healthy all season and the bullpen improves considerably.

WILL MISS PLAYOFFS IF: Jupiter doesn’t align with Mars — and Neptune.

INJURY THAT WOULD HURT THE MOST: Losing David Wright for an extended period would bury an already suspect lineup.

Playing the field

Lucas Duda and Ike DavisAnthony Causi

FIRST BASE: Ike Davis and Lucas Duda are battling for the job. The loser will be looming on the bench and could end up as eventual trade bait.

SECOND BASE: Daniel Murphy is among the more dependable bats in the lineup, helping compensate for his defensive shortcomings.

SHORTSTOP: Ruben Tejada is wearing a bull’s-eye on his chest. If he’s awful again early in the season, the Mets could be forced into making a trade.

THIRD BASE: David Wright might hit 30 homers this season, thanks to the lineup protection Curtis Granderson brings.

LEFT FIELD: Eric Young Jr. probably isn’t an everyday player, but the Mets love the energy he brings to the lineup.

CENTER FIELD: Chris Young covers decent ground, but the Mets need him to wield a big stick.

RIGHT FIELD: Curtis Granderson won’t have the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium as a landing spot any longer. Can he thrive at Citi Field?

CATCHER: The Mets need Travis d’Arnaud to stay healthy and have a breakout season.

BENCH: Duda or Davis coming off the bench would bring potential thunder. Josh Satin might be the team’s best pinch-hitting option. Backup catcher Anthony Recker had a big spring, and Omar Quintanilla provides steady defense at short. Lagares figures to be the fourth outfielder.

STARTING ROTATION: Bartolo Colon received a two-year contract worth $20 million to replace Matt Harvey. Zack Wheeler, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee are the other components to the rotation, although Niese’s shoulder and elbow bear watching since he had spring-training MRIs on both. Daisuke Matsuzaka or Jenrry Mejia will be the fifth starter. The rotation figures to receive a boost from Noah Syndergaard and possibly Rafael Montero as the season progresses.

BULLPEN: Jeurys Familia is one of the young, power arms the Mets believe can complement closer Bobby Parnell to give the team a formidable bullpen nucleus. Veteran Jose Valverde will handle the eighth inning, while the lefties are Scott Rice and John Lannan.

PREDICTION: 77-85, fourth place in NL East