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Mets' Wright Prefers '3 Or 4' Solid Players Over Big Splash

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Forget about the big-name free agents.

New York Mets third baseman David Wright would rather see general manager Sandy Alderson spread the team's money around on "three or four" less expensive yet reliable players.

"Let me preface this by saying that this is my opinion, and not anything that Sandy has told me, or anything that Sandy and I have talked about. It seemed like it worked for Boston last year," the Mets captain told Newsday. "If you can get three or four -- maybe not those marquee free agents -- but three or four guys that are very good, solid, players I think it helps us fill more holes. And ultimately we become a better team because of it."

After finishing last in 2012, the Red Sox got key contributions from free-agent additions Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli, Koji Uehara and others en route to this year's World Series championship.

"I think with some of the holes that we have, it's probably better suited -- again this is my opinion -- to fill some of those holes rather than spend all of your allocated budget on one player," Wright said.

The Mets have been linked this offseason to outfielders Nelson Cruz, Curtis Granderson and shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Alderson has indicated that he doesn't expect to make any offers in the neighborhood of $100 million.

Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon has said the Mets will have money to spend if the right players come along.

"Well, I think the ability to spend and actually spending are two different things," super-agent Scott Boras said Wednesday, taking a shot at the team's shrinking payroll.

Wright said last year that Alderson's blueprint for the future was crucial in his deciding to sign an extension.

"I was all in," Wright said in Dec. 2012. "From then on, I informed my guys that we needed to get this done."

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