Nov 13 2013 08:50 AM
Re: Let's talk about The Grandy Man
Mets' interest in Curtis Granderson is growing
The Mets desperately need power at the corner outfield spots, and with Marlon Byrd coming off the board at two years, $16 million to the Phillies Tuesday, the market is shaping up to be limited.
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By Kristie Ackert / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
| ORLANDO — Who can make the sun shine at Citi Field? The Grandy Man can. That seems to be what the Mets believe, as a team source told the Daily News Tuesday that the club is growing more and more intrigued with outfielder Curtis Granderson, who turned down a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Yankees on Monday. The Mets desperately need power at the corner outfield spots, and with Marlon Byrd coming off the board at two years, $16 million to the Phillies Tuesday, the market is shaping up to be limited. “Given what we have seen so far, I wasn’t surprised,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said about the Byrd deal. “Had you asked me the question three or four months ago, I might have been surprised, but not in light of what’s happened since the end of the season. There haven’t been that many signings. This one is consistent with the others, I think.” After the second day of the GM meetings here, Alderson also confirmed that the Mets intend to meet with Scott Boras before Thursday. Boras, of course, represents the two top outfielders on the free agent market: Shin-Soo Choo and Jacoby Ellsbury. Granderson’s agent, Matt Brown, is not here this week, Alderson said, so no meeting is expected anytime soon. Since the Mets have about $30 million to spend this offseason and have many holes to fill, Choo and Ellsbury, who are expected to get mega-contracts, are not seen as likely fits. Boras also represents Stephen Drew, a shortstop who could take care of another Met need. As The News reported Monday, bringing Byrd back was not a priority for the Mets. Byrd, 36, had a resurgent year with the Mets, one of the few teams willing to give him a chance after he served a 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s joint drug program in 2012. Byrd, who signed for $700,000 last season, hit .285 with a career-high 71 RBI for the Mets before being traded to the Pirates in late August. Alderson may be looking for another bargain. Saying that the slow start to the offseason is playing out as expected, he is evaluating a competitive and fluctuating market. “We might bring in more than two starting outfielders. Who knows how things are gonna break? I’d be surprised if that happens, (with) so much interest in corner outfielders among other clubs,” Alderson said. “I’d be surprised if we were that successful, because of the demand at the position.” Alderson made it clear the Mets could live with Eric Young Jr., who led the National League in stolen bases last season, in left field. There is also some thought within the organization that Young could move back to his natural position at second base if the Mets were to deal Daniel Murphy. “Eric is gonna be a part of our team. What his exact role might be will depend on our final roster,” Alderson said. “It depends a little bit on how things go in spring training. I expect he will be a valuable part of the team.” Alderson again labeled shortstop a priority, but played down the need for a veteran catcher. Despite an initial wish list that included a durable veteran backstop who could play every day in case Travis d’Arnaud suffers yet another injury, Alderson said Anthony Recker can do the job. “Ultimately, if we have to go with Recker and d’Arnaud, it would be nice to have somebody else available to us,” Alderson said. “(Juan) Centeno is the only other catcher we have under contract at the Triple-A level, so we’d like to have somebody else, but it’s not a high priority.” |
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