MILWAUKEE — Sandy Alderson likely won’t leave the GM meetings today with a new closer for the Mets, but he has taken small steps in the search.
The Mets general manager yesterday said he has met with Frank Francisco’s agents and spoken with Matt Capps’ agent, but cautioned there are probably about “a dozen” options on the market to fill the closer’s role.
“I think we are casting a wide net,” Alderson said. “But that doesn’t mean there are 50 candidates.”
Rebuilding the bullpen is atop Alderson’s winter agenda — Jose Reyes’ free-agent status notwithstanding — after a disastrous 2 1/2-month stretch to finish the season following Frankie Rodriguez’s trade to the Brewers.
Capps, Francisco, Jonathon Broxton and Joe Nathan are among the potential closing options that figure to fall into the Mets’ price range. The team also could look to sign two closer types with the idea of having them compete for the job in spring training. The loser would get the eighth inning.
Alderson cited the need for quality arms to join Bobby Parnell and Manny Acosta, both of whom throw in the high 90s, with Parnell often reaching triple digits.
“We need to develop more of those guys out of the system,” Alderson said.
Jenrry Mejia could be among those future options, but probably not until 2013, as he recovers from last season’s Tommy John surgery.
Alderson said the Mets are in much better position from a bullpen standpoint than they were last year at this time. The general manager likes the fact the Mets have lefties Tim Byrdak and Danny Herrera under contract and potential pieces in Acosta, Parnell and Pedro Beato.
Lefty Robert Carson has made a strong impression in the Arizona Fall League and likely will be added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, and Alderson also views rookie Josh Stinson as a potential candidate for the bullpen.
“We have much more flexibility than we had last year,” Alderson said.
Along the free-agent lines, Alderson said he has spoken to Jason Isringhausen’s agent, but the general manager also acknowledged concerns over the righty’s health problems that sidelined him for most of September.
The wild card is Parnell, who Alderson says still has the organization’s attention, despite flopping in his audition late in the season to claim the closer’s job.
* Popular utilityman Nick Evans elected free agency yesterday but could be re-signed. … Jason Pridie, who spent most of last season as a backup outfielder with the Mets, signed a one-year deal with Oakland.