New York Mets’ Marlon Byrd (6) slides safely into home plate as Miami Marlins catcher Jeff Mathis attempts the tag during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 29, 2013 in Miami. Byrd scored on a double by Ike Davis. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (AP)
MIAMI — Seeking a rummage-sale bargain? Don’t bother calling the Mets.
Despite the team’s slow start to the second half, Mets brass still intends to hold onto player assets beyond tomorrow’s non-waiver trading deadline, organizational sources said yesterday.
That means unless the Mets are “blown away” by an offer, Marlon Byrd and Bobby Parnell, specifically, will remain with the team.
The Mets are 6-6 since the All-Star break after last night’s 6-5 victory over the Marlins and are 12 1/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East, but still view the idea of a potentially strong finish to the season as more favorable than trading away top talent just for the sake of making a deal.
Byrd, unsigned beyond this season, could be an attractive option for a team seeking a right-handed bat, but a team official emphasized yesterday the Mets won’t just give him away.
“If something presented itself we would consider it,” the official said. “But we haven’t been presented with anything. We’re just sitting tight.”
Instead of seeking out trade partners, the Mets are waiting for other teams to call them.
“We’re not motivated to move anybody,” the official said. “It’s hard to go to people, they have to come to you. It’s better to be asked to the prom than have to ask somebody.”
“We’re in a really good spot. Unless you’re going to be knocked over, you don’t make a trade. You have A, B and C prospects. If you are going to get a ‘C’ prospect for somebody what does it really do?”
The official noted the organization believes it hit home runs on the Carlos Beltran and R.A. Dickey trades over the last two years and isn’t going to settle for a single on a player such as Byrd.
The Mets are 22-16 since June 18, and the official said that reflects positively on manager Terry Collins, whose contract is set to expire after this season.
“I think they’re doing a good job of sprinting to the finish line,” the official said.