Mets “Not Being Cautious” as Market Begins to Heat Up

As rumors begin to swirl regarding free agents and their suitors, the New York Mets – still without a general manager – are apparently doing more than just getting their ducks in a row.

On Saturday, Mets owner and CEO Steve Cohen confirmed on Twitter that the team indeed has “multiple irons in the fire” with regards to potential personnel moves this winter.

Speaking with former MLB general manager and current MLB Network Radio host Jim Duquette on Sunday, team president Sandy Alderson echoed Cohen’s aggressive rhetoric, telling Duquette “we’re not being cautious or letting the market develop.”

Alderson added that the team would likely be “more active on the free-agent market than the trade market,” owning to the franchise’s “commitment to our farm system” – a sharp change in philosophy from the previous front-office regime.

Whether that rules out a run at Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor, Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado, or one of the Cubs’ many available players on the block (Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, and Yu Darvish stand out) is unknown at this time, but it appears the team is leaning toward a more conservative approach with regards to their minor league stockpile.

Alderson shared that “the market is slow-moving with the exception of mid-level starting pitching,” as evidenced by Charlie Morton‘s one-year, $15 million deal with Atlanta, as well as Drew Smyly and Robbie Ray‘s early signings in San Francisco and Toronto, respectively.

Per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet Canada, one of the Mets’ presumable offseason targets, outfielder George Springer, has been drawing heavy interest from the Toronto Blue Jays, indicating – not surprisingly – that despite the offseason’s sluggish start, markets are already forming.

Cohen and Alderson’s statements allude to the Mets keeping themselves in the conversation, but, considering the market’s ability to spike at any given turn, one would have to assume the team must begin acting in earnest.