BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The New York Mets acted swiftly last offseason, signing Michael Cuddyer to a two-year, $21 million deal at the GM meetings because the outfielder had a tight deadline to make a decision on a qualifying offer from the Colorado Rockies.
Assistant GM John Ricco expects no similarly rapid moves this offseason.
“Not where we sit right now,” Ricco said Monday, as the general managers meetings opened at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. “We’re in a little bit of a different place teamwise than we were last year. And not only because of where we finished -- but because of how some guys developed, and our holes I don’t think are as glaring as they were.
"That’s not to say we can’t improve. We certainly have to improve and be better next year. But last year we had a clear need in the corner [outfield]. That’s why Sandy [Alderson] went out quickly and addressed it.”
The Mets’ wish list appears to include a lefty-hitting outfielder capable of playing center field, a lefty-hitting backup infielder and a setup man.
The need is in center field to complement Juan Lagares because Michael Conforto should play full-time in left field, with Curtis Granderson in right. Ricco said using Granderson in center field against right-handed pitching does not seem likely.
“That would be something Terry [Collins] ultimately has to decide, but I think at this stage of his career, he’s had a pretty good year in right field, and I would guess right now our thought would be to leave him there,” Ricco said.
Outfield candidates could include free agents Denard Span, Gerardo Parra, Dexter Fowler, Will Venable, Colby Rasmus and David Murphy. A trade with the Boston Red Sox for Jackie Bradley Jr. might make sense as well.
Once there is clarity that Daniel Murphy is not returning, that could open the door for the return of Kelly Johnson as a backup infielder.
The Mets have portrayed it as highly unlikely that they would trade Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard or Steven Matz this winter, but they are excluding Zack Wheeler from that near untouchable list. Ricco said the obvious reason why Wheeler is not listed with that off-limits quartet is because he is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and will not be back in the majors until midseason in 2016.
“Prior to the injury he was included in that group,” Ricco said.
Even with Alderson absent this week while undergoing a medical procedure, Mets officials expect to meet with agents this week.
“A lot of it is just touching base and seeing who they have and what they’re thinking,” Ricco said.
Ricco said the Mets are not behind in their offseason planning as the result of reaching the World Series. Ricco noted that the postseason success led to him spending extra time with Alderson and fellow deputies J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta.
“I wouldn’t say behind,” Ricco said. “We were together all month. You talk about the current team, but part of the job description is you always look ahead. I think the fact that we were together -- J.P., Paul, Sandy and I -- more this October than we would have been at any other time, we had a lot more conversations.”
The Mets are likely to lose Yoenis Cespedes and Murphy as free agents. They can offset those expected departures in part by having a full year of Conforto at the major league level and potentially less time lost to injury by David Wright and Travis d'Arnaud. The Mets are prepared to have a middle-infield combination next season of Wilmer Flores, Ruben Tejada and Dilson Herrera. Ricco praised Herrera’s offensive potential as well.
Ricco indicated the Mets have no intention of reverting to the anemic offense of the first half of last season. The Amazin’s became the first team in major league history to reach the World Series after being last in the majors in runs scored on July 31.
“I don’t think we envision having that kind of an offense again,” Ricco said.
Ricco added that shortstop is not a deficiency for the Mets.
“If you look at the overall numbers we got out of shortstop, I think Sandy may have mentioned this the other day, but our two guys had pretty good seasons,” Ricco said about Flores and Tejada. “Just collectively, I know we were right around the top 10 in terms of production. ... We got to the World Series with them. Wilmer and Ruben were a big part of what we did. You’re always looking to get better. You have to try to find ways. We’re not going to stand pat at all positions. But I would not characterize it as a hole.”
Ricco said the Mets do expect to meet with Cespedes' representatives.
“We’ll be in contact,” Ricco said. “We already have been talking to them in normal course. We’ve touched base with most of our free agents. There will be ongoing discussions.”