New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson believes free
agent Michael Bourn would be a “nice fit,” and feels the team is “still in the
mix” for the center fielder, reports Matthew Cerrone of Mets Blog.
“For us, he would be a very nice fit,” Alderson said of Bourn, since he’d add speed to the lineup and improve the team’s defense. “I think we’re still in the mix, but I couldn’t really predict anything at this point.”
Cerrone hears from people connected to the Mets that the
team is “thinking three years and around $40 million” for Bourn. Meanwhile,
agent Scott Boras is aiming to get at least four guaranteed years at an average
annual salary of $15 million for his client.
Boras is representing that Bourn has an attractive offer on
the table from another team, but the Mets are basically asking him to prove it.
They don’t seem to believe anyone is willing to go more than $40 million for
Bourn, and they don’t appear set to bid against themselves this offseason.
The draft pick situation is still an issue, but the Mets
probably won’t pursue having their first-round selection protected unless an
agreement is reached with Bourn and Boras. At this point, it’s been reported
that negotiations with the MLB Player’s Association would result in the pick
being protected.
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