Mets rumors: Outfield will be top priority at winter meetings

The New York Mets have put signing outfield bats at the top of their agenda for next week’s winter meetings, sources have told Adam Rubin of ESPN:

The Mets have several offseason needs, but the agenda item on the front burner at next week's winter meetings will be the outfield, according to sources briefed on the Mets' plans…

The second priority for the club is to sign a righty-hitting catcher.

Rubin adds in a separate report that the Mets are interested in adding two right-handed hitting outfielders, one to start and the other as a back-up option.

As it currently stands, the Mets’ outfield consists of Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter and Jordany Valdespin, all left-handed hitters. The Mets could re-sign free agent Scott Hairston to quickly add a righty bat to the mix, but he may be too costly.

There are several right-handed outfield options available for the Mets, including Cody Ross, Ryan Ludwick, Matt Diaz and Reed Johnson, but none have been tied to the club as of yet.

Whomever the Mets end up signing, Rubin’s sources believe that it will be done via free agency, not a trade.