PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets aren’t holding their collective breath a new shortstop to replace Ruben Tejada will be entering the scene anytime soon.
Beyond free agent Stephen Drew, the team is monitoring Seattle’s infield glut, but has not held substantive trade talks with the Mariners since the Winter Meetings, according to an industry source.
And discussions with other potential trade partners have been equally muted, as the Mets seem resigned to at least starting the season with Tejada at shortstop.
“He’ll be fine,” a Mets official said.
Tejada had a scheduled day off on Saturday, when the Mets’ split-squad faced the Twins in a Grapefruit League game at Tradition Field. In seven games this spring, Tejada is 2-for-18 (.111) at the plate, with three errors.
Mariners infielder Nick Franklin was among the players discussed by the Mets at the Winter Meetings, but according to a source no momentum toward a deal has built in recent weeks. The Mariners continue to scout the Mets, but have not told club officials whom they would want in return for Franklin, who hit .225 with 12 homers and a .686 OPS in 102 games last season as a rookie.
A major league official suggested any buzz about Franklin potentially heading to Flushing has been generated more by the Mariners than the Mets.
Diamondbacks infielders Chris Owings and Didi Gregorius are among the other possibilities for the Mets, but a team official said nothing is on the “front burner” pertaining to finding a replacement for Tejada.
The Mets still are clinging to the hope the real Tejada surfaced in 2011 and ’12 — when he was a dependable presence in the field and atop the lineup — and last year was an aberration. Tejada hit just .202 in 57 games in 2013 and spent three months at Triple-A Las Vegas.
There is sentiment within the front office to stick with Tejada because the available players — Drew included — likely would have minimal impact on a lineup riddled with holes. And the Mets aren’t excited about the prospect of parting with top young pitching talent for a minimal upgrade to the lineup.
“The focus [by fans] is on what Tejada did last year, and it’s understandable — this is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately game,” the Mets official said. “But how do you know we won’t get the Tejada from two years ago?”
The Mets still consider the possibility of signing Drew a long shot — the veteran shortstop is believed to be seeking at least $14 million for this season and his agent, Scott Boras, has a history of getting his way.
Tejada spent two months at an offseason conditioning and nutrition camp in Michigan, but missed a week of exhibition games with tightness in his left hamstring.
Upon his return, Tejada has shown rust. Wilmer Flores and Omar Quintanilla have also seen action at shortstop, but neither is considered a realistic candidate to unseat Tejada for the job in spring training.
Flores, who projects as a corner infielder, is 5-for-27 (.185) this spring, though he hammered an eighth-inning, two-run home run in the Mets’ 9-4 win over the Cubs on Saturday. Quintanilla played shortstop for most of last season with Tejada at Las Vegas. The veteran is 4-for-22 (.182) this spring, and likely will make the club as a backup middle infielder.