Jeff Wilpon responded to a report in the New York Post and told reporters that he is more optimistic now than a month ago that the Mets can get new deals done with David Wright and R.A. Dickey.

He is encouraged more and more as the process moves along because there’s been back and forth conversations, reports Marc Carig.

Wilpon also added that he could see a scenario where both or one enters next season without a new deal in place.

He went onto ranking what he thinks will happen as follows:

1. He signs both players and keeps them long term.

2. He lets them play out their options next season and then takes the comp picks.

3. He can trade them both this offseason.

It appears that by the way Jeff Wilpon phrased everything, that GM Sandy Alderson has little say in the matter, and that he’s the one pulling all the strings. He never even mentioned Sandy.

Original Post 9:00 AM

In today’s New York Post, Mike Puma writes that according to an industry source with knowledge of the discussions,there is just a 50-50 that David Wright signs a long-term extension with the Mets this offseason, Mike Puma reports in this morning’s New York Post.

The source said Wright is less than thrilled with the length of contract and amount of guaranteed money the Mets have offered. It could set up a game of chicken between Mets brass and Wright’s agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, heading to the winter meetings, which begin in two weeks in Nashville, Tenn.

Wright, who turns 30 next month, is believed to be seeking a deal of at least seven years and $125 million that would give him the largest contract for a position player in franchise history.

Puma says the two sides are now at a stalemate, and that part of this is that Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon doesn’t want to go for the middle ground according to a person familiar with the club’s negotiating tactics.

Wright has said he will not negotiate with the Mets beyond spring training, putting him in position to hit the open market next offseason if a new deal can’t be struck.

The plot thickens.