The latest from ESPN's Buster Olney…
- The Mets must avoid diminishing or marginalizing GM Sandy Alderson, writes Olney. A source told the ESPN scribe, "If he gets some space, there is a lot of potential for great things to happen."
- The Mets have not engaged Jose Reyes' agent Peter Greenberg in contract talks, reports Olney. Mets owner Fred Wilpon told Jeffrey Toobin of The New Yorker on April 20th that Reyes "thinks he's going to get Carl Crawford money," but Olney's source says Wilpon isn't in a position to know what Reyes wants. Perhaps Wilpon simply heard the Crawford comparison via the rumor mill.
- Olney feels that center fielder Coco Crisp "would be in the shop window" if the Athletics look to move pieces. Crisp, 31, is hitting .278/.308/.420 in 170 plate appearances on the season and earns $5.75MM. Still, even after dropping six in a row the A's are only three games back in their division.
- Olney speculates that Crisp would be a natural fit for the Braves, who will employ Jordan Schafer in center field while Nate McLouth is on the DL. Right fielder Jason Heyward is also on the DL. Olney says the Braves would love to add a leadoff hitter, something Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote about on May 16th.
