Mets rumors: Contract talks with Wright, Dickey still in "preliminary" stages

Contract talks between the New York Mets and their two biggest contributors, third baseman David Wright and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, have not made any progress this month, a source has told Andy Martino of the NY Daily News:

Contract negotiations between the Mets and their two signature players, David Wright and R.A. Dickey, remain very preliminary, and have not yet advanced to the point of discussing years or dollars, according to a person with direct knowledge of the talks.

Although Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has remained in touch with the representatives for both stars, the sides are "still talking about when to really get talking," according to the source.

Both Wright and Dickey have club contract options for the 2013 season, but the Mets had hoped to come to long-term extension agreements with the duo before having to make a decision on either of them. With the early-November deadline for exercising contract options fast approaching, the Mets will have to hurry to re-sign their marquee players before the options kick in.

Martino posits that the possibility of the Mets coming to terms with either player by the end of October is now "remote", and that the club will have to negotiate with the pair after picking up the combined $21 million on their 2013 options. Martino also speculates that the Mets could look to trade Dickey this winter if they cannot reach an agreement.