MLB

Mets GM assured picks if Reyes departs

MILWAUKEE — When the Mets decided against trading Jose Reyes during the season, they believed their fallback position if the shortstop left via free agency would be to receive high-end draft-pick compensation.

But draft-pick compensation is almost certain to be eliminated as part of a new labor agreement, which could be completed as early as this week and certainly no later than the end of the month.

However, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told The Post the team made its decision with Reyes based on assurances from the Commissioner’s Office that the two-draft-pick compensation for elite Type-A free agents such as Reyes would remain the same this offseason, regardless of what happened with a new labor agreement. An official from the Commissioner’s Office confirmed that.

Three officials briefed on the negotiations told The Post the system will be changed this offseason to allow lower-end Type-A free agents to sign elsewhere without the new team losing draft picks. There is a strong possibility Type-B compensation will be eliminated this offseason, according to two executives briefed on negotiations.

SEE THE CITI FIELD CHANGES

Under the current system, teams have until next Wednesday to offer arbitration to their Type-A free agents such as Reyes. If offered, the player then has until Dec. 7 to reject or accept.

If accepted, the player cannot leave and either works out a new contract or goes to arbitration with the team. If rejected, the player remains free to sign elsewhere, but his old team gets draft compensation: at least a sandwich pick between the first and second round plus the first-round pick of the signing team if that club finished with one of the 15 best records the previous season or a second-round pick if the team finishes with a worse record than that.

For example, if Reyes signs with Miami, the Mets would get a pick between the first and second round and the Marlins’ second-round pick because they tied for the 22nd-worst record in the majors in 2011. But if Reyes were to, say, sign with the AL Central champion Tigers, the Mets would get the sandwich pick plus Detroit’s first-round position.

However, the Marlins also are pursuing other Type-A free agents, and if they were to sign a higher-ranked Type-A such as Ryan Madson, the Mets would have the compensation fall to a sandwich pick between the first and second round plus a third-round pick.