Mets patch holes with Carrasco, Paulino
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Say this much about Sandy Alderson: The Mets' new general manager wasn't lying about bringing a few players home to New York from these winter meetings, and we're not talking about tomorrow's Rule 5 draft.
The catch? Alderson wasn't referring to Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford, two players who are still available - just not to the frugal Mets, who spent a big chunk of their offseason budget Tuesday in agreeing to deals with reliever D.J. Carrasco and catcher Ronnie Paulino.
That's the kind of reality Alderson has to operate in these days, especially in the wake of yet another Madoff lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Mets and the team's limited partnership, which is headed by principal owner Fred Wilpon.
Once again, the Mets asserted that the lawsuit, which is seeking unspecified damages, would not affect the operation of the team. But when the key acquisitions are Carrasco and Paulino, at a total investment of roughly $4 million, there seems to be larger economic forces at work. Carrasco received a two-year deal, worth about $2.5 million, and Paulino got a one-year contract at $1.3 million.
"There's been an understanding on my part from the very beginning that there was going to be somewhat less flexibility this year than would probably be the case in future years," Alderson said. "I not only understood that, I support the idea.
"But there's nothing set in stone. From the beginning, I've said we're probably not in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, or anything in that range, and I don't expect we will be. But as we are here at this particular week, given what our overall strategy is, I think we're hopeful that we will be able to accomplish what we wanted to, regardless of payroll issues."
The Mets desperately need bullpen help, and Carrasco should be a serviceable piece. The 33-year-old righthander went 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 63 appearances last season split between the Pirates and Diamondbacks. As for Paulino, he makes for a decent righthanded-hitting complement to the expected starter, Josh Thole - once Paulino's done serving the last eight games of a 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. Paulino batted .259 last season in 90 games for the Marlins but is a career .338 hitter against lefthanders with a .390 on-base percentage.
In addition to patching holes, Alderson has hinted at more outside-the-box ideas discussed with other clubs, and one that popped up in the past few days has involved Carlos Beltran. Alderson did not come to these meetings expecting to move Beltran. But with the interest that has sprung up, it's not completely off the radar.
Notes & quotes: The Mets appear to be done interviewing hitting coaches and are likely to decide between Andy Van Slyke, Don Long and Dave Hudgens . . . Chad McDonald was named the director of amateur scouting and Dick Scott will be minor-league field coordinator.
