NEW YORK -- As they continue to search for worthwhile additions to their stagnant lineup, the Mets are among the teams harboring interest in Cuban free agent Yulieski Gurriel. The team will hold a private workout for Gurriel, general manager Sandy Alderson said.
"We're going to do our due diligence on that player," Alderson said on Tuesday. "We've made arrangements to do that. At the same time, this player hasn't seen live pitching for weeks, if not months. It's not clear how long a player in that situation would take to be ready. And of course there's the investment and all the other issues, and making an evaluation of the player based on workouts … and not game competition. But we're going to go through that process."
Gurriel, 32, officially became a free agent last week, but as Alderson mentioned, there is some question as to how quickly he can work into game shape. Still, the Mets are willing to wait for the right fit.
"I wouldn't want to put too much emphasis on the next three weeks," Alderson said. "I know they're important. But if we felt there was a solution that was where we had to sacrifice a few weeks in return for something substantially longer, that tradeoff might be worthwhile. So I wouldn't rule anything out simply because somebody can't make a contribution until the middle of July, or late July, when the [non-waiver Trade] Deadline would occur anyway."
Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has been open in recent days about his interest in the team signing Gurriel, whom he considers a friend. But the Mets do have other options. The club is weighing a potential reunion with former shortstop Jose Reyes, who could move to third base and would likely come at a lower price than Gurriel. The Mets could swing a trade for a player such as A's infielder Danny Valencia, or they could stick with Wilmer Flores, who is batting .333 since June 3, until or unless better alternatives become available.
Regardless of what they do, the Mets will be without their Opening Day third baseman, David Wright, likely for the rest of the season. Wright underwent neck surgery last week.