PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -New York Mets chief executive officer Fred Wilpon said he did not mind outfielder Carlos Beltran’s boast.
In fact, Wilpon added one of his own.
“I expect to be in the playoffs and deep into the playoffs,” Wilpon said Tuesday at the Mets’ spring training complex. “That’s our expectation.”
The mild-mannered Beltran said earlier this spring that the Mets were the team to beat in the NL East – similar to the bold statement Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins made last year.
“I like it when players speak their mind,” Wilpon said. “Beltran’s not the kind of guy that’s out there every day making proclamations. It’s very meaningful when Carlos Beltran says something like that.”
Wilpon said he is happy with the attitude in the early part of camp. This does not seem like a team dejected after the collapse late last season, he said.
“I think you feel it. I’ve been here a few days, and I think you feel it in this camp,” Wilpon said. “There?s a quiet, strong confidence with each and every player I’ve talked to.”
Getting ace Johan Santana is a big reason for the change in mood. Santana more than fills the void left in the rotation by Tom Glavine’s departure.
Though Wilpon debated with his son, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, on the matter, they were willing to pay Santana top dollar in order to get the deal done.
“I think it was only important to make the right acquisition,” he said.
Santana’s arrival also helps set up the Mets for their move into Citi Field in 2009.
“I think (general manager) Omar (Minaya) said it also,” Jeff Wilpon said. “We’ll get this done now and put yourself a year ahead of where you could be for next year’s free agent crop.”
Notes: At times, it appeared prospect Fernando Martinez could be the stumbling block in the Mets’ efforts to get ace Johan Santana. At just 19 years old, Martinez has become one of the top prospects in the game and reports were out that the Mets refused to include the teenager in a prospect package to acquire Santana from the Minnesota Twins. Martinez followed the story, but he was glad he was not traded. “To me, this is the best team,” Martinez said. … OF Moises Alou was expected to fly in Tuesday and report Wednesday.
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