On the Beat

Manager Monger

by John Perrotto

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—It might not be fair to call David Wright Mr. Met. After all, he doesn't wear a size-22 baseball cap. However, the six-time All-Star third baseman is the closest thing to a Mr. Met in the non-mascot division. He was one of the franchise's first-round picks in the 2001 amateur draft following his senior year of high school in Chesapeake, Virginia, made his major-league debut three years later, and is now the franchise leader with 1,426 hits.

"Heck, I've been a Mets fan my entire life," Wright said. "I went to see their Triple-A farm club, the Tides, play all the time when I was a kid growing up in Norfolk. Playing for the Mets has been a dream come true."

Despite that fact, there was a bit of hesitation on Wright's part before he agreed to an eight-year, $138-million contract that will keep him with the Mets through the 2020 season. The pact was finalized Wednesday during the third day of the Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort.

Wright wanted to make sure the Mets were committed to winning after four consecutive fourth-place finishes in the National League East. Wright also needed to know the franchise was on solid footing after owner Fred Wilpon lost a reported $700 million in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme. Wright received his assurances in October when general manager Sandy Alderson made a visit to Norfolk for a round of golf and a late lunch.

"Once Sandy told me about his plan for making the Mets a winning franchise again, I was all in," Wright said. "I called my guys (agents Seth and Sam Levinson) and told them that we needed to get this done."

---

The rest of this article is restricted to Baseball Prospectus Subscribers.

Not a subscriber?

Click here for more information on Baseball Prospectus subscriptions or use the buttons to the right to subscribe and get access to the best baseball content on the web.

Already a subscriber? Click here and use the blue login bar to log in.

5 comments have been left for this article.

<< Previous Article
Skewed Left: How the T... (12/06)

<< Previous Column

On the Beat: Catching ... (12/05)

Next Column >>
On the Beat: Moore Pro... (12/13)

Next Article >>

Youth Movement: Rule 5... (12/06)

RECENTLY AT BASEBALL PROSPECTUS Daily Hit List: Wednesday, May 22 Scouting the Draft: Center Fielders to Know Skewed Left: A Somewhat Happy 40th for the I... The Lineup Card: 7 Baseball Firsts We Expect... What You Need to Know: The No-Name O's Raising Aces: This Justin Overthinking It: Better in Baltimore	MORE FROM DECEMBER 6, 2012 Rumor Roundup: Thursday, December 6 In A Pickle: Trout Au Vin, and Other Delicio... Transaction Analysis: Double LOOGY Day Transaction Analysis: Three Years for Keppin... Transaction Analysis: Sabean Keeps the Gang ... Transaction Analysis: Rockies Trade for Wilt... Transaction Analysis: Just Visiting
MORE BY JOHN PERROTTO 2012-12-20 - On the Beat: Jays Ready for Takeoff 2012-12-13 - On the Beat: Moore Problems 2012-12-07 - The BP Wayback Machine: Grand Ole Opry 2012-12-06 - On the Beat: Manager Monger 2012-12-05 - On the Beat: Catching Up at the Winter Meeti... 2012-12-04 - On the Beat: Rumblings from Nashville 2012-11-21 - On the Beat: AL Shopping Lists More...	MORE ON THE BEAT 2012-12-27 - On the Beat: Remaking the Red Sox 2012-12-20 - On the Beat: Jays Ready for Takeoff 2012-12-13 - On the Beat: Moore Problems 2012-12-06 - On the Beat: Manager Monger 2012-12-05 - On the Beat: Catching Up at the Winter Meeti... 2012-12-04 - On the Beat: Rumblings from Nashville 2012-11-21 - On the Beat: AL Shopping Lists More...