Mets GM Sandy Alderson 'Not Prepared To Blow Up The Team'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Though the 2012 season started with promise and ended 14 games under .500, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson isn't ready for a drastic roster change.
"I'm not prepared to blow up the team and start over again," Alderson said Wednesday.
The first order of business will likely be initial extension talks with third baseman David Wright and 20-game winner R.A. Dickey, who both want to know the organization is headed in the right direction.
"Retaining our own players is one of the key tenets of the approach we're trying to take," said Alderson. "Those two would be the most obvious."
Alderson's message to them: "Look, I think we're very definitely headed in the right direction. But at the same time, we will not in the near future have unlimited funds. So recognize what our immediate situation is, what we expect to be our mid- and long-term situations, and evaluate us on that basis."
The Mets (74-88) finished fourth in the NL East for the fourth year in a row, but they believe things are on the upswing after the settlement of a suit stemming from the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme.
Alderson said the Mets might be more active this offseason in the trade and free-agent markets.
"The organization is in a stronger position than a year ago," Alderson said.
Wright said he is optimistic the Mets will be better in 2013.
"It's difficult because of how the season ended," he said. "But when you look back and evaluate this team as a whole, there is a lot of good that came out of this year and a lot of positives that you can take into next year."
The Mets hold a $16 million option for Wright for next year. He said he hasn't thought about a possible long-term deal.
"I'm sure in a couple of weeks I'll be able to think about it a little bit more and just enjoy the process," he said.
Outside of extending Wright and R.A., what do you want to see from Alderson? Be heard in the comments below...
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