Mets, Collins Expected To Begin Contract Talks Soon

6:54pm: Alderson declined to comment to reporters (including MLB.com's Anthony DiComo) about whether he would meet with Collins this week, but he did praise Collins' work with the Mets.  "I think he's done an excellent job across the board with the talent that he's had, with the injuries that he's had to endure, with the other changes in personnel," Alderson said.  "I think he's handled all of those situations and individual events exceptionally well."

2:15pm: It's been widely speculated that Mets manager Terry Collins will be back with the team on a new contract in 2014, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that discussions are likely to begin today, as general manager Sandy Alderson is with the team on the road in Cincinnati right now (Twitter link).

Earlier today, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News wrote that a two-year deal made sense, as Collins' performance hasn't justfied a three-year extension, but another one-year deal would just mean another season of a lame duck manager and wide-reaching speculation.

Collins was named manager of the Mets following the 2010 season. In his three years with the Mets, he's managed just a 222-257 record, though he hasn't been given much talent to work with and has seen prolonged time on the disabled list for his best players, including David Wright, Jose Reyes and Jonathon Niese. Collins has five winning seasons under his belt after managing the Astros from 1994-96 and the Angels from 1997-99.

The Mets have said they won't officially announce a return for Collins until after the regular season has concluded.