MLB

Mets GM: Losing pick worth top free agent

The Mets have a protected first-round draft pick for next season, a provision that may help convince them a premier free agent is worth signing this winter.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told The Post it’s “safe to say” he won’t let the forfeiture of a second-round pick in the 2014 draft inhibit him from signing a free agent who received a qualifying offer on Monday.

Earlier in the day, a club source said the Mets were discussing whether they were willing to surrender a compensatory draft pick for such a potential free-agent acquisition. Thirteen players received qualifying offers of $14.1 million for next season.

Shin-Soo Choo, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Nelson Cruz, Curtis Granderson, Stephen Drew and Ervin Santana are among the players on the qualifying offer list who could interest the Mets.

But just the fact the Mets, who have somewhere in the $30-$40 million range to spend this winter, were discussing whether they would surrender a second-round pick for any member of the list could be an indication they will set their sights lower.

The next tier of free agents includes names such as Jhonny Peralta, Corey Hart, Marlon Byrd, Bronson Arroyo and Phil Hughes.

Unlike most teams, the Mets wouldn’t have to surrender a first-round selection in next year’s draft to sign a player who received a qualifying offer because the club gained a protected pick by finishing with the 10th worst record in the major leagues in 2013.

Last year the Mets had an unprotected selection at No. 11, and that played a role in their decision not to sign a free agent that would have required draft-pick compensation. The team pursued Michael Bourn, but wasn’t prepared to sign the veteran outfielder without a ruling from an arbitrator saying the 11th overall pick was protected. The Mets had argued to MLB they deserved a protected pick based on finishing with the 10th worst record in 2012. But that record translated into the 11th pick because the Pirates were slotted ahead of them at No. 10 after their first-rounder, Mark Appel, failed to sign with the club. Bourn signed with the Indians before the case could reach an arbitrator’s desk.

Considering the Mets’ free agents might not be worth $14.1 million combined, it came as no surprise the team didn’t make a qualifying offer on Monday. It leaves Frank Francisco, LaTroy Hawkins, Daisuke Matsuzaka, David Aardsma, Pedro Feliciano, Tim Byrdak and Aaron Harang as free agents who won’t bring the Mets draft-pick compensation if they sign with another club. Last week, the Mets declined their 2014 option on Johan Santana, making the veteran lefty a free agent.

Of their own free agents, Hawkins and Matsuzaka are the players the Mets will most likely attempt to re-sign.

The 40-year-old Hawkins went 3-2 with a 2.93 ERA in 72 appearances for the Mets in 2013 and is valued because of his proven track record, durability and clubhouse presence.

Matsuzaka, who joined the Mets for the final weeks of the season, rebounded from early struggles to finish 3-3 with a 4.42 ERA in seven starts. The 33-year-old Matsuzaka could provide rotation depth until the Mets are in position to call up a prospect such as Rafael Montero, Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard later in the season. But the team also figures to pursue a proven innings-eater such as Arroyo.