Mets News: Wright has Reached out to Michael Bourn

Yesterday in Port St. Lucie, David Wright told Kevin Kernan of the New York Post that he reached out to Michael Bourn a few weeks ago.  Wright spoke with Bourn on the phone and via text message.

Here’s what Wright had to say to Kernan:

"I just wanted to let [Bourn] know that he would be a great addition here and he’d obviously be welcomed here…I talked to him a couple weeks ago, and I told him, ‘You’re always in the right place at the right time, your work counts.’  I’ve always had great respect for him and the way he plays the game and have always kind of chatted with him when he gets to third base."

"I just feel he’s a hard-nosed player. I wanted to be there to answer any question he might have and let him know that with some of the young arms that we have and the young talent we have, we are not far off.He’s terrorized us, so I’ve seen first-hand what he is capable of doing.  Those types of guys, speed guys, he’s frustrated the heck out of me by chasing down balls in the outfield.  It just seems that he has a nose for the game. He would be a great addition, but obviously there are a few teams interested.  I’m all-in in this organization, and I’m going to do whatever I can, on the field or in the clubhouse, to try to get this thing going in the direction I think we need to go."

Sandy Alderson told reporters yesterday at Citi Field that the Mets were still actively pursuing Bourn.  If/when the Mets and Bourn have the parameters of a deal in place, Alderson would then make a formal request to Major League Baseball for the Mets’ first round pick (11th overall) to be protected in the event they signed Bourn.

Sep 09, 2012; Flushing, NY, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Bourn (24) looks back as he steals second during the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

It’s February 5th, and one would expect the Bourn saga to reach its conclusion in the coming days.  Still, stranger things have happened.  At this point, it appears only the Mets and Mariners are serious suitors for Bourn.  With his agent Scott Boras requesting a five-year deal for his client and no one biting, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Boras would shop Bourn around on a one year deal so he’d be able to hit free agency again next year.  If he employed that strategy, there would likely be a number of teams with fresh interest.