In a post to his blog for ESPN, Jayson Stark says clubs who have 'kicked the tires' on a trade for R.A. Dickey have said while the Mets are listening to offers, the Mets still prefer to sign Dickey.
Stark says the Mets are lining up trade possibilities in the event their talks fall apart with Dickey.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com
That's pretty much in-line with what Jeff Wilpon said yesterday in Far Rockaway. From a business perspective, I understand the need to setup fallback options, although the mere discussion of them makes me feel nervous they think they can't get a deal done with Dickey.Previous updates and information on R.A. Dickey...
Contract: The Mets exercised their $5 million option for Dickey for 2013. He can become a free agent after next season.
Stats: Dickey went 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA, having allowed 192 hits and 54 walks with 230 strikeouts in 233 2/3 innings. He became the first Met to win 20 games since Frank Viola in 1990, and won the 2012 National League Cy Young Award.
Reports:
- Nov. 17, 2012: Buster Olney of ESPN says that if Dickey were to agree to a two-year extension for 2014-2015, he wants more than $10 million per year.
- Nov. 17, 2012: Andy Martino of the Daily News says the Mets offered Dickey a two-year contract two weeks ago and the two sides have been negotiating since. The Mets know Dickey will take a two-year contract worth less than the two-year, $29 million contract Jake Peavy signed with the White Sox.
- Nov. 16, 2012: MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone said, 'The Mets are likely offering him a two-year deal,' probably around $10 to $12 million a year, though Dickey is said to be seeking at least three guaranteed years to start after 2013.
- Nov. 8, 2012: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports said the Mets are not showing much interest in signing a new deal with Dickey, and instead are discussing him with possible trade partners.
- Nov. 8, 2012: CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman believes the Mets are seeking both a catcher and an outfielder in talks for Dickey.
- Nov. 8, 2012: The New York Post's Joel Sherman says the Mets are beginning to gauge Dickey's value on the trade market at the GM Meetings and will weigh their findings against keeping him through 2013 and not signing him to an extension. The Mets remain conflicted as to how to deal with Dickey's contract situation, Sherman concludes.
