MLB Rumors: Mets Must Sign David Wright Long-Term to Appease Fanbase

The New York Mets are one of the most “blah” franchises in the game right now and ensuring there is some sort of star-power around for the foreseeable future is a must.

David Wright is the face of the franchise and is off to an incredible start to the 2012 season. Yet after he makes $15 million this season, the Mets have a serious decision to make about their 29-year-old star.

They can exercise the club option on his deal for $16 million and avoid a long-term deal until September of 2013. They could negotiate a new deal that will likely land him something like $130 million over the next six years. Or they could trade him now and cash in with a ton of prospects.

After trading away Carlos Beltran (currently experiencing a resurgence), and letting Jose Reyes walk, they need to show fans they are willing to shell out big dough on somebody. Well good news, it sounds like Wright is going to be playing in Flushing Meadows for a very long time, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:

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Two things you can count on: 1) Wright isn't going anywhere in trade this summer, and 2) the Mets will try to lock up Wright to a longterm deal, if not this season than this winter.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson agreed with my text to him that it would take something "extraordinary'' and "unforeseen'' for Wright to be traded this summer. Loosely translated, that means he ain't going anywhere. The only reason they give themselves even the slightest bit of opening is they understandably don't want to be seen as liars in the event something "extraordinary'' and "unforeseen'' does happen.

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It’s easy to see how management would take this approach. This year he is batting .400 with four home runs and 21 RBI while registering a 1.080 OPS. Since breaking through with the team in 2004, he has hit at least 26 home runs on five separate occasions while registering five 100 RBI seasons as well.

The Mets are rebuilding in quite possibly the toughest division in baseball in the NL East, and are hanging tough at 19-15. With both Kirk Nieuwenhuis (22) and Ruben Tejada (24) looking to have incredibly bright futures, the line-up is going to be strong for years to come. Only Lucas Duda can be considered a “regular” that is hitting under .260.

The future is bright and ensuring their veteran third basemen is there for the long haul gives fans hope, and in baseball that’s half the battle.

We’ll see how quickly the Mets act, but it looks like Wright is going to be a Met for his entire career. 

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