Brian Wilson probably shouldn’t change his ring tone to “Meet the Mets” anytime soon.
According to a baseball source Tuesday, the veteran closer didn’t impress the Mets during his workout at UCLA on Saturday and wasn’t deemed worthy of a major league contract at this point in his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Wilson, the source said, wasn’t interested in a minor league deal.
“Physically, he’s not ready,” the source said. “He’s got a ways to go.”
The source said if Wilson is still on the market during spring training, the Mets could hold another audition for him, but the Mets also aren’t in a rush.
In the meantime, the Mets figure to pursue other bullpen options.
The 30-year-old Wilson underwent Tommy John surgery — which generally carries a 12-month rehab — last April. But Wilson also underwent a previous Tommy John surgery, perhaps making teams more cautious in their approach.
Wilson, a three-time All-Star, made $8.5 million in 2012 and was non-tendered by the Giants in November after they won their second World Series in three years. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson watched Wilson’s workout on Saturday.
Wilson’s best year came with the Giants in 2010, when he went 3-3 with a 1.81 ERA and 48 saves.
On another front, an industry source confirmed the Mets have rejected Scott Hairston’s asking price of two years and $8 million. It is believed the Mets countered with a one-year offer worth $2 million, leaving the two sides at a stalemate in negotiations.
The 32-year-old Hairston earned $1.1 million in 2012, during which he batted .263 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs. The source pointed to Endy Chavez, Ramon Castro, Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez — four recent free agents for which the Mets overspent in terms of years and dollars — as the reason the team will be judicious pursuing Hairston.
Even if Hairston doesn’t return, the source said he would be surprised if the Mets don’t upgrade an outfield that includes Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter, Collin Cowgill and Andrew Brown. The Mets recently inquired about Arizona’s Justin Upton, but talks never gained momentum, after the Diamondbacks asked for top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler.
* Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy and Bobby Parnell were the three Mets who filed for arbitration yesterday. Davis made $506,000 last season. Murphy made $512,000 and Parnell earned $504,000.