The latest from Joel Sherman of the New York Post…
- "We will listen on [David] Wright for sure," a Mets official told Sherman last week. The official added, "We know we are not going to win it all in 2012. We have to hope the Phillies get old and we are in position to take advantage of that in 2013-14, and we have to figure out ways to speed the process to get there." Sherman says the Mets crave a "young, defensive-oriented center fielder plus an arm or two" for Wright. He says they are focusing most on the Angels, and Peter Bourjos is a possibility.
- Sherman was hearing similar thoughts about Wright from a Mets official back on October 21st. Around then, an official told him, "We'll explore Wright's market. I think considering where we are as an organization, it would be foolish not to at least look at it. However, I expect actually pulling the trigger is a long shot." GM Sandy Alderson said on on October 31st that he thinks Wright will be a Met in 2012. Andy Martino of the New York Daily News heard a few days later that Alderson will be "strongly disinclined to deal" Wright. Though some of these reports have different themes, I don't consider them conflicting. I think the Mets are being careful not to be seen as "shopping" Wright, as that's considered a dirty word in terms of leverage. Wright seems far from off-limits, but with his value at a low point the Mets might prefer to wait.
- Sherman questions why the Mets weren't more proactive in trading Jose Reyes in July, a theme of my offseason outlook a few weeks ago. But I did note, "In Alderson's defense, Reyes spent half of July on the disabled list, perhaps cutting down his trade value to the point that two draft picks wasn't much worse."
- Sherman spoke to one American League talent evaluator who thinks the Phillies will be in on Reyes. It's true that they'll have the need and the money if Jimmy Rollins signs elsewhere.
