According to multiple reports, free agent outfielder Curtis Granderson met with New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson on Sunday for talks of a potential deal.
According to ESPN, Granderson and Alderson spoke on Sunday, making the outfielder just the third free agent that the Mets have met with this season, the other two being shortstop Jhonny Peralta who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and Chris Young, who the team eventually signed to a one-year $7.25 million contract.
Granderson opted for free agency this offseason rather than signing the qualifying offer that the New York Yankees offered to retain him meaning the Mets would have to surrender a draft pick, though it would be a second-rounder since their first round selection is protected.
Granderson was held to just 61 games in 2013 after breaking his forearm in spring training and breaking his pinkie during the regular season and he hit just .229 while blasting seven homers and 15 RBIs. In 2012, Granderson played in almost every game and hit just .232 but blasted 43 homers and 106 RBIs.
If the Mets were to sign Granderson, the team wouldn't expect his homer total to be as high in Citi Field as it was in lefty-friendly Yankee Stadium, but the team hopes that the gaps in Citi will enable Granderson to boost his average. The injuries that Granderson suffered last season led to his worst statistical season with the Yankees.
Granderson will turn 33 in March and joins Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin Soo-Choo, Carlos Beltran and Nelson Cruz as one of the top-five free agent outfielders on the market.
The Mets expressed "preliminary interest" in Granderson last month, but now that a meeting has taken place the team seems as though it may be serious about signing him after all or at least haven't ruled it out.
According to The New York Daily News, Granderson is looking for at least a three-year deal for his next contract.
Granderson is a lifetime .261 hitter with 217 homers and 606 RBIs through 1,187 career games and is is a three-time All-Star and a Silver Slugger Award winner.
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