MLB

Alderson talks Mets plans: Colon deal ‘could happen’

The Mets could be sellers. They could be buyers. But the likely path is they will do nothing before the Thursday trading deadline, according to general manager Sandy Alderson.

“To make a guess, I’d say nothing will happen,” Alderson said.

With the Thursday 4 p.m. MLB non-waiver trading deadline racing toward them, the Mets are not too keen on dipping into their stable of young pitchers, especially with all the injuries that have torn through the majors.

“I’d say that’s a fair statement,” Alderson said.

And with the hope of reaching .500 then challenging for a wild-card spot, the lure of landing prospects does not appeal. If the Mets import talent, they prefer talent to help now. But of course, the asking price is young pitching.

“Anybody who’s offering us a potential upgrade on our current roster is looking at our young pitching. Those interested in our veteran players, they’re offering prospects,” said Alderson before the Mets’ 7-1 victory over the Phillies Monday. “We’re in that position where we don’t want to give up prospects, but we’re not anxious to trade for guys that can’t help us nearer term.

“We’re not anxious to be sellers, we’re cautious about being buyers. But we’ll see,” the GM said, cautioning that some possible deals “may be prohibitive” in price.

The talks so far — and they have been few, Alderson noted — have “been about 50-50” in terms of buying and selling. But when the rumors die down Thursday, when the phone lines stop buzzing, chances are what you see now in the Mets is what you’ll see then.

“You never know what’s going to transpire in the next three days or so. Clubs that may be having conversations elsewhere circle back, based on what their options might be,” said Alderson, whose Mets are 7 ¹/₂ games out of first in the NL East.

“I’d say we have an opportunity to do a thing or two, but we’re not inclined to at this point. So, again speculation. But I wouldn’t bet on something happening before the deadline.”

Alderson answered in the affirmative that the reluctance to subtract from assets — read: young pitching — is a prime snag. But when asked specifically about Bartolo Colon, he admitted the veteran who signed a two-year deal in the offseason could be more valuable after the deadline.

“One of the things you do at the trade deadline, or as you go through the year, is try to assess whether a particular player’s value is going to go up or down after the trade deadline and into the offseason,” Alderson said.

So patience can be more than a virtue.

“There’ll be lots of teams looking for pitching in the offseason and there’ll be lots of teams thinking about giving a veteran pitcher three or four years at $50-60 million,” Alderson said, then bringing up Colon’s deal. “At that point, an $11 million deal for one year for somebody of his ability, that’s pretty attractive. I’m not sure it looks quite as attractive today as it looks then.”

Still, Colon has value for the Mets. He allowed one run in 7 ²/₃ innings and got the win Monday.

“We’re not anxious to move him at this point. It could happen,” Alderson said.

Alderson pointed out how one website placed five Mets prospects among the top 100 in all baseball. And four of those prospects are position players. So the stockpile is not limited strictly to arms. Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki is one name that has surfaced in Mets rumors and Alderson acknowledged there is always a “possibility” of making a big splash without naming any specific targets.

“In fact, to me that sounds more desirable than inching your way there and giving up prospects in more cautious transactions. So I wouldn’t rule that out,” Alderson said. “But it’s got to be the right time for the right player under the right circumstances.”