26
2012
Alderson Weighs In On Extending Dickey and Wright After The Season
An article by 
Listening to Sandy Alderson last night on SNY gave me little hope the contract extensions for David Wright and R.A. Dickey will reached any time soon, but he did say there’s more a sense of urgency with the latter.
“R.A.’s situation is a little bit different in the sense that there is more immediacy there,’’ Alderson said. “Here’s a guy that’s 37 years old and is pitching and presumably doesn’t have the same horizon that a David Wright might.
“So at the end of the season we’ll talk with R.A. and see what he’s thinking and try to have him back. He’s been a great story this year. He’s been a great asset over the last three years, really.’’
Dickey has been solid since getting here, but this season has been a breakout one for him as he’s on the cusp of winning 20 games. While Wright has already had one payday, this will be Dickey’s only chance.
Dickey said he’d like to stay, but also realizes what’s at stake. Just last week he said it would take more than one piece to make the Mets a legitimate contender. He and Wright are two of those pieces, but the team needs more, including the bullpen, the outfield and catcher.
Based on published reports, the Mets aren’t going to splurge in the free-agent market, with their resources earmarked for these two. Subsequently, you can’t expect 2013 to be much different than this year. The hope for improvement is from within and injured starters Johan Santana and Dillon Gee coming back.
Both players said they’d wait until the offseason, which is now a little more than a week away. Both have stated a preference of staying with the Mets, but also acknowledged the economics of the sport.
“Our intent is to work hard to try to keep them both,’’ Alderson said. “They’ve both been great for us this year. David has been here and is the face of the franchise — has been. We’d very much like him to stay. I think he wants to stay. I’m sure he wants to know where we’re headed and the things that we intend to do to make it a winner. We’ll have that conversation at some point.’’
That last comment is in response to Wright saying last week there are no moral victories in finishing strong and it is all about making the playoffs.
If a deal can’t get done, Alderson said trading becomes an issue.
“If we felt that there absolutely wasn’t any way that we were going to get something done, then we would probably approach something,’’ Alderson said. “But I think we tend to be optimistic and see where it takes us.’’
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
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SA makes it sound that if Dickey or Wright are not retained (both have options but the pitfall of Reyes won’t be repeated) then they both want to be with a contender. Yes economics is a big issue with the Mets. If they leave SA is going to make sure there was an offer. Hometown discounts to a noncontender with no fix for three years seems possible but not significant and who can blame them. S.A. is in a PR damage control mode for the Wilpons. Should S.A. give them an offer at their market value? That is the question. Remember both of them are win now type of players, both allstars.
I think you may be misplacing on which side the immediacy thing is….
I did not take that as it is more immediate for the Mets to sign Dickey than Wright in fact both seem to be as important as each other to the Mets because if you don’t keep one no reason really to keep the other…
The difference between Wright and Dickey is where it was noted.
Wright has a long career ahead of him and could sit through another 2 or 3 years before we are ready to win something.
Dickey doesn’t really have that long to get his ring!
So with Dickey it is more immediate to be on a winner than Wright and that might be a factor in our ability to resign the two.
Both have said the direction the team is going is as important than money.
Both (I believe) would love to retire as Mets as well.
But both also would like to be in and win a World Series and Wright has about 10 years to do that Dickey at best will have only 5!
Which makes his ability to be on a winner MORE IMMEDIATE than Wright!
hence the statement by Sandy which seems to suggest to me he doesn’t expect us to be good in a time frame of 3 to 4 years if thats what he meant by that!
If you ,listened to Sandy Alderson you should have either….
1. fallen asleep listening to this arrogant SOB pound his chest and ignore his two year reign of failure….
2. Thrown up because you couldn’t find the remote to turn him off.
This!
R A Dickey could be an effective starter in the Mets rotation for the next five or six years.
He’s a knuckle ball pitcher so his age is much a less a factor. He could be pitching when he’s 47!
From listening to SA’s bilge it’s clear that if they can’t get Dickey or Wright to sign at bargain basement rates it’s “Hasta la Vista Baby”.
It’s clear ownership has no desire to improve this club unless it can be done on the cheap.
I can’t say as I’d blame either one for going to greener pastures considering the crappy front office and ownership.
I’ve been a Met fan since the Polo Grounds and I’m really growing to loathe and despise ownership for the way they’ve turned my team into the laughingstock of the league. It’s even worse than Lorinda DeRoulet and the dark days of the 70′s.
If the Wilpon’s continue on their incompetent merry way they may finally get their wish to be connected to the Dodgers as one of the most hated New York franchise owners since Walter O’malley.
Enjoy the empty seats Freddy!
Why do we keep assuming Dickey will age the same as a normal knuckleball pitcher? What knuckleball pitcher pitched as hard as he does including throwing a fastball in with it?
Really with the How do you know crap again?
First off he doesn’t throw hard, nothing about throwing in the 80′s is HARD!
Second what hurts the arm is the spin mechanics which the Knuckleball doesn’t have in fact if it had any it doesn’t work!
It’s the stress of throwing a Curve and Slider that wears the arm out theKnuckleball has none of this excess stress it is all predicated on arm swing and release point with none of the other stresses associated with it!
We KNOW this which is why we also KNOW he will very likely be able to pitch well past his 40′s unless something else in a freak injury nature stops him.
Geezer!! LMFAO!!! Great comment. My exact thoughts. Remenber when M.Donald Grant had to hire security guards to escort him around Shea? Shea – his home ballpark! We are getting there again.
Silver spoon in mouth Jeffy Wilpon is the major problem. I am friends with some people who work in the front office and they hate his guts. Spoiled A…..Hole.
Moving forward – my opinion, trade Wright. Sign Dickey. Pitching, pitching, pitching.
Another Wright article John…c’mon bro