The Mets are quietly preparing to offer David Wright a long-term contract extension at some point this year, perhaps as soon as this summer, a baseball official briefed on the Mets' thinking told Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal. Three weeks ago, the third baseman told reporters that he has yet to discuss a contract extension with the club.
Wright, 29, is making $15MM this season and has a club option for 2013 worth $16MM. General Manager Sandy Alderson declined to comment on any potential negotiations but did say that Wright would not be on the trading block this year.
"I certainly do not foresee, under any circumstances, David being a topic of discussion at the trade deadline," the GM said.
Even though Wright is off to a blazing start, the club doesn't feel as though there is an rush for them to begin discussing an extension with his representatives. However, the official told Costa that they are likely to do so before next winter because if they cannot reach an agreement, the club would have to consider trading him in the offseason.
While the Mets always believed that Jose Reyes would sign with whichever club offered him the most money, the club believes that they can sign Wright at a discount because of his affinity for playing in New York.
Excellent Smithers.
Remember when it was considered a “steal” if the Mets got Peter Bourjos for Wright? LOL.
When was that?
This would really hurt Jose’s feelings…
The Mets are quietly preparing to offer David Wright a long-term contract.
Not quietly enough, when someone whispers it, someone in return hears it!
Also, The Wall Street Journal for Real? Shouldn’t they be covering JP Morgan and their incompetence?
The Journal has been publishing a local section including sports for the past few years. I think it was one of Murdoch’s innovations to compete with the Times. I assume he uses economies of scale for back office operations, given that he owns the Journal, the Post, two television stations, and a slew of neighborhood weeklies and the Journal provides business news on WCBS Newsradio. With all of these other potential money makers, I suppose that it is understandable that Journal could fall behind on business coverage.
Brian Costa came over from the Newark Star-Ledger Mets beat. He always struck me as a good reporter there.
Since the News Corporation bought the Wall Street Journal, it now competes directly against the New York Times. It has sports beat writers now, sometimes shared with the New York Post.
He has improved his hitting and defense. I would like to see him stay with this team.
I would also like to see the team seriously fix the pitching staff.
THe bullpen hasnt been fixed in 6 years. They should start there first
The Mets have actually had a decent bullpen for much of the past six seasons. The loss of Wagner in 2008 was a real debacle, and this season they got what they spent. Buy cheap relievers, and get “cheap” quality. Wagner and K-Rod were both solid. It’s a shame that K-Rod’s off-the-field actions killed his career in New York. The guy is a gamer…
But i argue that the bullpen was the main culprit of both epic collapses. Scott Schoeneweis, Aaron Heilman, Luis Ayala and those other clowns single-handedly cost them 2 playoff berths.
2008’s bullpen down the stretch was just disastrous, but 2007 was a team loss. For example, you can’t get shutout by Joel Pineiro after he was recently cut by Boston…
Just saying, but Scott Schoeneweis was actually quite good in 2008. He was mainly a LOOGY, and in that roll he was fantastic, and he was okay down the stretch. Heilman on the other hand…
No the collapses were when Reyes hit. 160 in the month of September. That was the problem.
That caused problems that season, but in the end, it was the Mets’ cash flow issues combined with a vesting option that K-Rod was on track at the time to make vest that really forced their hand.
Ah thank Goodness! Build around this guy!
Not that they have the money, but would have loved to see David Wright in a Braves uniform someday
I can understand the Mets letting Reyes go as a baseball decision—he had problems with injuries…and Reyes only got one really big offer that he ended up taking. As for Wright, he has not had much injury issues and…more importantly…the Mets’ cash-flow issues are likely now over after the Madoff chapter is behind them.
Even as a Phlly, I’ve always been a big fan of Wroght. Class act guy who plays hard. If it wasnt for injuries, he may be the best 3B in the game.
Yankee fan here. But, I have always liked David Wright. He plays the game like Jeter , hard . He also is a truly nice guy.
The Mets need to do right by the face of their franchise. Build around him. Offer him a 7 year deal @ 112 million to 7 years @ 119 million.
Really, you’re a Yankee fan? Well, I never!
He’s playing stellar baseball on both sides of the ball, is back being the player he was earlier in his career and his defense is off the charts good. The revamping of his batting stance and return to really good plate discipline is working wonders.