PORT ST. LUCIE — Sandy Alderson is entering the final year of his contract as Mets general manager, but barring a colossal team collapse is expected to have his 2015 option picked up.
The larger question might be how much longer the 66-year-old Alderson wants to continue in the job.
According to a person close to Alderson, the GM would like to stay in his present role another two or three years, but “definitely not five.”
Alderson also has been mentioned as a potential candidate for commissioner, with Bud Selig set to retire next January, but MLB’s chief operating officer, Rob Manfred, is widely regarded as the front-runner for that position.
Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, in a recent interview with MLB.com, indicated he’s happy with the job Alderson has done since taking over in October 2010.
“We’re in a better state than we’ve been, and we’re ready to move forward with the plan that Sandy put in place three years ago,” Wilpon told the website. “This is going into the fourth season of his plan, and we’re primed to take advantage of that.”
Under Alderson, the Mets have finished with a losing record the past three years, but have also built a farm system — recently ranked sixth in the major leagues by Baseball America — and acquired top young pitching talent Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard in trades for Carlos Beltran and R.A. Dickey, respectively.
Wilmer Flores will see action at shortstop this spring, according to manager Terry Collins, but the Mets probably won’t keep him on the roster without a regular spot for him in the lineup.
“With what he have on the infield, if he’s not going to get a lot of playing time, he’s got to go play at his age, because the ceiling on his bat is too high,” Collins said.
The Mets signed lefty pitcher Dana Eveland and righty Buddy Carlyle to minor league contracts. Both were assigned to minor league camp.