MLB

With focus on manager, Mets won’t be big players

Baseball free agency began at midnight last night, and though Mets GM Sandy Alderson made it clear he expects the team typically to be major players, he didn’t think that would be the case this offseason.

“We want to be in the [free-agent] market every year,” Alderson said when he was introduced last week. “Will we be in the market this year aggressively? Unlikely.”

Alderson spent yesterday in California, scheduled to interview three potential internal candidates for the vacant manager’s spot:  Wally Backman, Terry Collins and Chip Hale.

No meetings are scheduled for today as Alderson continues to look inside the organization, while other possible managerial choices include former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, who is also up for the same job with the Pirates, as well as Don Wakamatsu, the former Mariners manager who is being considered by several teams as a bench coach.

But whoever Alderson picks will need some players, and although the Mets almost certainly won’t be in the market for any of the high-priced free agents — Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth — there could be other options.

Alderson will have some choices to make at backup catcher, because Henry Blanco is a free agent but could return to play behind Josh Thole.

The Mets also lost Hisanori Takahashi, who was versatile enough to pitch in virtually every role last season, from starter to closer. Alderson opted not to meet Takahashi’s demand of a three-year contract, so the rookie became a free agent on Friday and the Mets won’t be able to re-sign him until May 15.

Pedro Feliciano is also a free agent. The durable Feliciano has led the league in appearances each of the last three seasons. It’s unclear whether Alderson will want to meet his asking price.

And with the time frame of Johan Santana’s return from surgery unknown, the starting rotation could use some help, with Jon Garland, who went 14-12 for the Padres last year, a possibility.

But with Alderson already having talked about a lack of payroll flexibility, and COO Jeff Wilpon admitting he assumed the team was already “close to the maximum,” the chances of an impact player joining the Mets this offseason appear remote.

Right-handed reliever Grant Balfour could be a more realistic option than former targets lefty reliever Brian Fuentes and second baseman Orlando Hudson, who figure to be out of the Mets’ price range.

dan.martin@nypost.com