Mets source believes Dickey would sign 2-year extension

Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com

Yesterday, I wrote here, 'Insiders at the GM Meetings tell me Dickey will want four years, and probably $50 million after 2013, but the Mets are thinking more like two years and $20 million.'

Apparently, WFAN's Mike Francesa made a similar comment later in the day, but said his information was not coming from the Mets.

So, this is weird, because if I'm hearing and Francesa is hearing that Dickey's agent will want a deal that keeps his client in place for the next five years, why does Martino's Mets source believe he will sign just a two-year deal? It suggests to me that the Mets and Dickey's agent clearly have not talked specifics, but also that a two-year pact (to start after 2013) with an option for 2016, could be a place of compromise ' since it would guarantee R.A. three seasons and a chance at one more if he pitches well. In either case, it sounds like the two sides will see eye to eye on money, which is good. It's the years that might be an issue.

In regards to the trade market, if the Mets believe R.A. will sign for two years beyond 2013, yet continue to shop him in trade, it says a lot about his trade market and what the Mets might be able to get in return if they move him' otherwise, they'd just sign the extension.

In either case, I believe this is the course of action: First, the team obviously told Dickey they want him beyond next year, which is theoretically true; then, they needed to gauge his value in trade, which they're clearly doing this week; then, they'll probably meet with Dickey and his agent and talk real dollars and years, which I bet starts up next week; and then, if he's only willing to sign for more than they're willing to offer, I expect they'll ramp up talks with teams serious about trading for him ' at which point they'll need to make a decision.