David Wright and R.A. Dickey were All-Stars in 2012. (Getty Images) |
As things stand now, David Wright and R.A. Dickey will be heading into the 2013 season as free agents-to-be. But Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told a group of season-ticket holders Sunday that he's hoping to extend both players before the start of next season.
"It's not our intention to simply rely on those options and go into next season and deal with three free agency after 2013," Alderson said, according to the New York Daily News. "We're going to deal with it up front while we still have a little bit of room to maneuver. But we're committed to trying to bring those two back. I hope they'll both be back and I'm excited about the possibilities they will be."
The Mets have options for next season on both players, $16 million for Wright and $5 million for Dickey. As if there were any questions before Sunday, Alderson's statements imply the team will pick up both options.
Wright, 29, has experienced a resurgence this season, hitting .317/.410/.515 with 17 home runs, after hitting just .254 with 14 home runs last season. Wright has said he wants to wait until after the season before discussing a contract extension. He has said he would like to remain a Met.
Dickey is having his best season ever, going 16-4 with a 2.76 ERA. While Dickey will turn 38 in October, his knuckleball gives the Mets reason to believe he can pitch longer than most pitchers. Tim Wakefield pitched at 45, Charlie Hough at 46, Tom Candiotti at 41 and Phil Niekro at 48. Dickey too has said he'd prefer not to negotiated during the season.
"I'm open to talking about whatever they would like," Dickey told the Daily News. "I love it here. I've always voice that and a part of me enjoys being loyal to an organization that's given me a shot. I connect well with the fan base, [the media] has always been good. I'm comfortable here and that says a lot for me where I am in my career."
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.