NEW YORK -- New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson plans to meet with right-hander Bronson Arroyo at the free-agent pitcher's Tampa, Fla., home during the upcoming week, a baseball source told ESPNNewYork.com.
Alderson, who has spent the holiday weekend in Maryland, touched base with Arroyo's representatives Wednesday to try to arrange a face-to-face meeting. Alderson has met in person with at least two free agents so far this offseason -- shortstop Jhonny Peralta and outfielder Chris Young.
Peralta, who met with Alderson at the GM meetings, subsequently signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets announced a one-year, $7.25 million deal with Young this past week.
The Mets also recently dined with agent Jay Z in Manhattan regarding client Robinson Cano, although Alderson subsequently downplayed the likelihood of the Mets pursuing the second baseman in a meaningful way.
How serious the Mets' inquiry with Arroyo will be remains to be seen, since they have been averse to committing to large contracts in recent years. In fact, the largest contract Alderson has given to a free agent in four offseasons as GM is a now-expired two-year, $12 million deal to former closer Frank Francisco.
A baseball source told ESPNNewYork.com that Arroyo seeks a three-year deal, but may ultimately accept a two-year offer with a vesting option for 2016. The Mets particularly need rotation help because right-hander Matt Harvey is due to miss next season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Ideally, the Mets would add two starting pitchers from outside the organization, to pair with Jonathon Niese, Zack Wheeler and Dillon Gee. That would allow upper-level pitching prospects Noah Syndergaard, Rafael Montero and Jacob deGrom to open the season at Triple-A Las Vegas.
Arroyo, 36, went 14-12 with a 3.79 ERA in 202 innings with the Cincinnati Reds this past season.
Since 2005, Arroyo has logged the third-most innings in the majors (1,895 2/3), trailing only CC Sabathia (1,999 1/3) and Dan Haren (1,927 2/3). While Alderson hopes to meet with Arroyo during the upcoming week in Tampa, a source indicated the meeting may be pushed back to the following week, when the winter meetings will be held in nearby Orlando, Fla.
SB Nation first reported a potential meeting between Alderson and Arroyo.