Sandy Alderson said he needed “clarity” with a pair of his most important players Friday and he could be closer to getting that with at least one of them.
The Mets general manager and R.A. Dickey are in talks for a two-year extension, according to a source — but as both sides have acknowledged, the trade market for the NL Cy Young Award winner is still being explored.
Dickey is said to be looking for a two-year deal worth more than $10 million per season and while Alderson isn’t ready to draw a line in the sand for a deadline to make a deal, he did say the Mets needed to make a decision on both the knuckleballer and David Wright in the near future so the team can determine its path into 2013.
The GM pointed to the period between Thanksgiving and the winter meetings, which begin December 3, as a time frame in which he’d like to get something done. As much as the Mets would like to keep the 20-game winner, Dickey would fetch a sizable return in a trade — and the Mets have no shortage of holes to fill.
Still, as Alderson made clear again last week, the Mets’ top priority is still trying to find a way to keep Dickey and Wright beyond next season after exercising both players’ options for 2013.
Among the reasons the Mets can’t wait forever is the need to map out a plan for the rest of the offseason. They remain interested in Scott Hairston, but will get competition for the outfielder from the Yankees.
The Yankees continue to have conversations with Hairston, who is coming off arguably his most productive offensive season when he hit 20 homers and knocked in 57 runs with an OPS of .803 in part-time duty with the Mets last season.
The Yankees have already had preliminary discussions to bring back Raul Ibanez after a solid first season with the club. And, with Nick Swisher set to leave town, Hairston would provide right-handed power in the outfield, something the Yankees currently lack.
And in the wake of Torii Hunter signing with the Tigers, Hairston could fit into an outfield platoon and give the suddenly cost-conscious organization a more affordable option.
Of course, there is a reason Hairston would come at a lower price, since there is a danger in signing the 32-year-old. He is just two years removed from a disastrous season at the plate with the Padres, when Hairston hit just .210 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs and a career-low .640 OPS in pitcher-friendly Petco Park.
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The Mets announced their Holiday Ticket Sale yesterday, which features single-game and four-game packs that go on sale beginning tomorrow at Mets.com and 718-507-TIXX.