Mets focusing on cost-efficient options
Arizona's Brandon Webb, who has not pitched since 2008, is one possibly undervalued player the Mets are considering. Credit: AP
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - On Day 1 of the winter meetings Monday, the two most significant names attached to the Mets were Andy Van Slyke and Moises Alou. A pair of pretty good players, but in this case, it was for jobs on the coaching staff as Sandy Alderson continues to weigh cost-efficient options for improving his roster.
In those discussions, which included a meeting with the agent for pitcher Jeff Francis, Alderson talked with clubs about any number of his players, but the general manager disputed a report that indicated everyone is available. Carlos Beltran is among the Mets drawing interest, even though Alderson said it is "unlikely" that he will make a major deal with one of his talented core.
"I don't think that you should take too much from the notion that somebody has mentioned something to us or that we've had some discussions on a particular topic," Alderson said. "I think that what I have said in the past is that there are no untouchables. But there are some players who would be very, very difficult for us to trade."
Further handcuffing the Mets is a limited budget for this offseason, a problem that Alderson has not been shy about mentioning daily. In addition to Francis, the Mets have been exploring another pair of reclamation projects, free agents Chris Young and Brandon Webb.
One of Alderson's more telling comments Monday came after he was asked if the Mets could afford more than one free-agent pitcher. With Johan Santana coming back from shoulder surgery, the Mets have only three reliable - if unspectacular - starters in Mike Pelfrey, R.A. Dickey and Jon Niese. Alderson won't be spending on multiple reinforcements, however.
"I would say it probably would be one only - if that," Alderson said. "We're getting a sense of what the market is for some of that second-tier starting pitching, and right now, it's fairly high."
There's good reason for Alderson's restraint, especially during the winter meetings. A year ago at this time, Randy Wolf and Jason Marquis received eyebrow-raising contracts that didn't pan out for the Brewers or Nationals in the first year.
With that recent history, Alderson figures he can be patient with the second-tier market, perhaps waiting until January to see what's left to salvage.
"A lot of agents are planning that their players are going to sign this week - some will and some won't," Alderson said. "I said last night that this is where you have to exhibit patience generally but be aggressive specifically, and that's sort of what we're trying to do at the moment.
"It's about some recognition of the resources we have available and it's also about trying to read the market. There's no guarantee the players available today are going to be better than the ones available to us in a month, so that's the game we're playing right now."
In the meantime, the Mets interviewed Van Slyke for their vacant hitting coach position, and a person familiar with the situation confirmed an SNY report that Alou is mulling over an offer to return as first-base coach. Manager Terry Collins also addressed the media and said he had spoken to Beltran and Luis Castillo about their 2011 roles with the team.
