Alderson characteristically patient at Meetings

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — When the Mets signed outfielder Yoenis Cespedes — their top offseason priority — last week, general manager Sandy Alderson noted that the speed with which he completed that deal could slow other pursuits. Rather than rush into a trade of Jay Bruce, for example, Alderson would have the luxury of taking things slowly.

So it went this week in National Harbor, where the Mets engaged various clubs on a trade for Bruce as well as various agents on bullpen deals. The Mets walked away from Maryland with no new players, but plenty of leads.

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“I think we laid some groundwork, as they say,” Alderson said. “We’ll have conversations continuing when we get back to New York. So I think we’re pleased with the fact that we had some dialogue, and it continues. And we’ll pursue things over the next couple of weeks before Christmas, and possibly thereafter.”

With that in mind, here is …

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