QUEENS, NY (AP) -- Mets general manager Sandy Alderson hopes to speak with free-agent shortstop Jose Reyes' agents in the next few days.
Don't expect the Mets to make any big decisions quickly, though. Alderson said in a conference call with reporters Thursday ahead of baseball's winter meetings that begin Monday in Dallas the market for the NL batting champion still remains unclear to him.
"I only know what I read in the paper, OK? There haven't been additional reports that I've heard about other offers," Alderson said. "So I'm not sure there's much more clarity than we had when the first time the Miami visit/proposal was reported."
So far only the Marlins have publicly expressed interest the four-time All-Star, entertaining Reyes in Miami and making an offer that has been reported to be in the range of $90 million and six years. Making it more difficult to gauge Reyes' value is the slow movement of the overall free-agent market.
"I think also there's just a genuine uncertainty about the marketplace, and where the values are," Alderson said.
The Mets head to Dallas with finding relief help the top priority for the ballclub that went 77-85 last season. Alderson also identified catcher, second base and the bench as areas that need shoring up.
"I don't know that there's anything that's as glaring as our bullpen issue that we faced at the end of last year, and continue to address," Alderson said.
Alderson also denied reports that said Yankees catcher Jorge Posada inquired about playing for the Mets this season. But he said it is unlikely they would sign the 40-year-old free agent.
Also, the Mets' $25 million loan from Major League Baseball, which had been due for repayment on Wednesday, is being extended through March.
NOTES: The Mets hired Ron Romanick minor league pitching coordinator. He was the pitching coach for the Oakland Athletics in 2011 and a member of their coaching staff for the last four years. ... Alderson's son, Bryn Alderson, was signed as a pro scout. Bryn held the same job with A's the last five years.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
