NEW YORK — The Amazins’ search for an established outfielder has once again brought them to Michael Bourn, considered by many to be the best free agent centerfielder on the market this offseason.
According to Joel Sherman of the
New York Post, Mets GM Sandy Alderson and assistant GM John Ricco met with
Bourn and his agent Scott Boras over dinner last week in Houston. It is not
believed that intense negotiations took place between the two sides.
Boras is thought to be seeking a
5-year deal worth about $75 million for his client. Bourn hit .274 with nine
home runs and 57 RBI last season with Atlanta.
Although the addition of Bourn
would seem to be a no-brainer, two key roadblocks stand in the way of a deal
getting done.
First off, the Mets are reluctant
to give the 30-year-old Bourn a contract that would exceed three years. They
are still a few seasons away from contending in the NL East so Bourn is viewed
more as a stopgap player than a long-term solution.
Secondly, signing Bourn, who
turned down a qualifying offer from the Braves earlier this offseason, means
the Mets would have to surrender their 11th overall pick in the first round of this
year’s Draft.
Since taking over as GM, Alderson
has done a nice job returning legitimacy to New York’s farm system through the Draft
and various trades but there is still work to be done. Therefore, Alderson
believes that losing a first-round pick would be out of the question.
While the likelihood of Bourn
starting out in center field on opening day does not appear great, neither did that
of a Metropolitan tossing a no-hitter.
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