The Mets yesterday announced that they will retain GM Sandy Alderson and manager Terry Collins, despite three straight losing seasons and the "prospect of a fourth looming large," according to Mike Puma of the N.Y. POST. Alderson's option for '15 "was picked up, with two additional years added to his contract, and Collins will return for at least the final year of his deal." Alderson, who has "slashed the payroll" from $140M to $83M since his arrival in October '10, "may not be spending much this winter." He said, "I don’t know whether there will be a dramatic spike or not. But I don’t feel that we will necessarily be constrained by the payroll next year." Puma writes Alderson has "overseen the development of the Mets' farm system to a more than respectable level, but has mostly whiffed in the free-agent market" (N.Y. POST, 9/24). In N.Y., Tim Rohan notes Mets COO Jeff Wilpon did "not take any questions" during yesterday's announcement, but Alderson "revealed bits and pieces about where he expected the Mets to go from here." Alderson: "I don’t think we’re that far away. I really don’t believe that this is going to take a giant leap to get to a playoff-competitive level" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/24). Wilpon said, "We're very happy with the process that's in place, the development of our players. And the overall direction we're taking to get to the next level" (NEWSDAY, 9/24).
WE LIKE WHAT WE SEE: In N.Y., Joel Sherman writes Alderson receives a "good grade for this phase of his mission." Alderson "honored his code on building a cornerstone to sustained contention by stockpiling high-end young talent." He said, "The overall direction of the team is pretty good, now we need to translate the progress we have seen into more wins." Wilpon and his brother, team Owner Fred Wilpon, "rightly went for stability at an unsettling time within the NL East" (N.Y. POST, 9/24). In Newark, Mike Vorkunov notes the Mets will get P Matt Harvey back next season after he "sat out this year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery." 3B David Wright also played half of this season "with a bum left shoulder." Collins also expects "a bounce-back season" from RF Curtis Granderson, who "struggled in the first year" of a four-year, $60M contract (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 9/24). Alderson said, "We have to improve the team by 10 wins, 12 wins. There are a number of ways to do that. It’s not just a question of promoting young players or making a trade or signing a free agent in any particular area” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/24).
SMART MOVE? The N.Y. Daily News' Bill Madden said Alderson "deserved to come back." Madden: "I like the fact that Sandy admitted that he's made some mistakes … but on the whole, he's done a very good job in my opinion, and certainly the trades have been great." The N.Y. Daily News' John Harper said Alderson has "built something to work with here." He said, "They're pretty close, if they make the right moves, to being back in contention. It's taken them longer than it should have -- the Harvey injury was a factor -- but they built the farm system now." But SNY's Marc Malusis said the "free-agent signings, for the most part, have been an absolute disaster" ("Daily News Live," SNY, 9/23). SNY's Adam Schein said "it's been a mixed bag" for Alderson. He has made some "great deals," but free agency is "not a positive for Sandy Alderson, not good at all." Schein: "If it's a mixed bag, you want stability for your general manager." SNY's Chris Carlin said, "I got to give him a decent amount of time. I can't just turn this over every couple of years. I have no issue with this at all" ("Loud Mouths," SNY, 9/23).
