New York Mets to keep David Wright onboard for 2012 – MLB Update
With all teams now getting active to boost their rosters, there are rumours that the New York Mets might even trade their star slugger David Wright in the offseason. However, on a basis of a few concrete facts, this proposition seems to be highly unlikely.
The primary reason for this is the free agency of Jose Reyes, on whom the ballclub is yet to make a solid decision. The 28-year-old shortstop is hitting the rough waters for the first time in his career and the Mets are in no hurry to make a lucrative offer
to their home-grown All-Star.
Mets’ general manager Sandy Alderson has asserted that the team will wait for other teams to make an offer before considering the status of the player. It is believed that the Mets, the only ballclub Jose has ever known, are not willing to sign a long-term
contract with their shortstop, a player known for injuries.
It is generally believed throughout the National League that an overly impressive offer for Wright by other teams might lure Alderson into thinking about a potential deal, but nothing of this sort seems to be in-line before spring training, to say the least.
Furthermore, since Citi Field started operations in 2009, the conditions were never deemed to be hitter friendly. Now that an aggressive reconstruction is in process to make conditions friendlier for batters, it seems unlikely that the management will allow
Wright to change alliance, especially with Reyes’ future with the ballpark in doubt.
Wright lashed 10, 29 and 14 home-runs in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively, indicating his usefulness to the ballclub. The numbers for 2011 were reduced primarily due to a two-month injury layoff. Now that the conditions at home will suit him better, the
Mets will want to keep him onboard.
The Mets have stressed that the changes to the ballpark are not being made to facilitate any particular player and are being done solely to make conditions more neutral.
As for Wright, he has a 16-million-dollar club option for 2013 and a trade at this stage can void that clause. However, if he still feels that the Mets will not improve till June next year, the midseason trade market can see him change alliance.
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