Alderson: Mets Still Loosely Engaged With George Springer

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Speaking with Jon Heyman of MLB Network on his podcast (Big Time Baseball Podcast), New York Mets team president Sandy Alderson provided an update on the ongoing George Springer saga.

Springer, 31, fits New York’s needs to a tee. An accomplished center fielder with a potent bat likely fits any team’s criteria, but the Connecticut native has appeared as a shoo-in to land in Flushing all winter.

The Toronto Blue Jays have been Springer’s most visible suitor outside of the Mets, but besides those two teams, there hasn’t been much (publicly known) traction to speak of.

Plus, with the addition of Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the payroll this season, a few roster gaps still to be filled, and oncoming contract extensions for Lindor, Michael Conforto, and likely others, the Mets may not be in as strong a position as they have been as of late.

Though, as Alderson noted on Heyman’s podcast, the Mets and Springer are still keeping tabs on one another.

“Given the level of excitement [and] enthusiasm surrounding the Mets, I don’t think we’ve been crossed off his list,” Alderson said. “I would say that we’re still engaged, in a loose sense, with Springer.”

With a hole in center field yet to be filled and obvious interest on both sides, everyone may just be playing a little hard to get. Par for the course this time of year.

We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.