LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Sandy Alderson tried to win back a few back pages from the Yankees Sunday night. The Mets GM deadpanned that the team did not explore a trade with the Marlins for slugger Giancarlo Stanton, because “with Brandon Nimmo in right field, we just didn’t feel we had a need there.”
Alderson, however, immediately clarified it before the battalions of Mets fans could light up their cyber-torches and hit Twitter. Alderson admitted the Mets didn’t like Stanton’s huge, back-loaded contract.
“I am kidding,” Alderson said with a chuckle. “I’m kidding. We like Brandon. Believe me, we like Brandon. I didn’t think given the contract, the variety of circumstances that it made sense for us to feign any interest in Stanton for purposes of public consumption.”
As all of baseball gathered at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin resort Sunday for the annual MLB Winter Meetings, the Yankees were planning a big press conference here today to officially announce that the 2017 National League MVP will be playing in pinstripes next season.
Alderson has a need in the outfield. He reiterated Sunday that Michael Conforto, who the Mets eventually see as their right fielder of the future, will probably not be ready for opening day. Conforto, the Mets’ sole All Star last season, had surgery to repair a torn shoulder capsule.
“There’s not a setback, that’s just my belief,” Alderson said.
BIG DEALS HANGOVER
Alderson said that with Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani announcing he will sign with the Angels on Friday and the Yankees wrapping up Stanton, he expects the free agent and trade market to kick into full swing this week.
The Mets did make a presentation to Ohtani, but kept working the phones while those two dramas played out on the national stage. Two sources confirmed that they have talked to the Tigers about Ian Kinsler and a trade for the second baseman is still a possibility. They have inquired about infielder Josh Harrison with the Pirates. The Mets will also do their due diligence in checking with the Marlins about Starlin Castro, after the Stanton deal is finalized.
SOFTENING ON SMITH
After bluntly saying that rookie Dominic Smith had not shown the Mets enough this fall to win the Opening Day first base job, Alderson clarified that he does not plan to make a move that would block Smith from that job this spring.
“Dominic is still very much in the mix. I wouldn’t expect us to do something that totally eliminates Dominic as a possibility. We are still very high on Dominic, some of my comments earlier in the offseason notwithstanding,” Alderson said. “I’d be surprised if we did anything that precluded him from having an opportunity in spring training.”
EARLY SPRING FOR WRIGHT
David Wright is expected to report to Port St. Lucie in early January and meet with the Mets. Having spent the offseason in California rehabbing from his fourth spinal surgery in three years, the Mets want to see him before players report to get a sense of where he is in his rehab.
“It’s a kind of just let’s see where we are at that point (meeting),” Alderson said.
Wright missed all of the 2017 season with neck and shoulder issues. He has not played in a major league game since May 2016.