Like most teams, the New York Mets have been almost completely silent on the free-agent market. Besides signing converted outfielder Adam Loewen to a minor league deal last week, the Mets roster looks the same as it did when the season ended.
To at least a small extent, that should change next week at the Winter Meetings in Dallas. The meetings will run from Dec. 5-8 and it will be an upset if even the cost-cutting Mets walk away without a new player or two.
One of those players could be Manalapan, N.J. native and former Rutgers star David DeJesus. A source close to the 31-year-old free-agent outfielder said the Mets and DeJesus' agent have spoken on multiple occasions, setting the stage for a possible return to the East Coast.
After playing the first eight years of his career with the Kansas City Royals, DeJesus spent 2011 with the Oakland Athletics. A career .284 hitter, DeJesus batted .240 with 10 home runs, 48 RBI and 60 runs scored in 131 games during his only season with the A's.
Oakland offered DeJesus arbitration last week with the understanding he would decline. If the Mets sign him, they will not have to forfeit a draft pick to the A's, but rather they will receive a supplemental-round selection.
DeJesus can play all three outfield positions and would give the Mets roster a significant upgrade, even if he is unable to beat out Angel Pagan for the starting CF job.