The latest news boiling on the Hot Stove: two of the preeminent outfielders in all of baseball have left their 2012 teams to join clubs in California.

December is here, and the Mets front office has been rather quiet.  Except for the extension of David Wright, and the release of Jason Bay, no major roster turnover has occurred.

Is Sandy Alderson just a pretender, as MMO suggests, or has the front office simply given up (Yes, I understand linking to one’s own blog is a tad incestuous)?  Or could it be that Alderson is still waiting out the market instead of making a rash decision that could lead to overpaying in money and/or players?  Either way, Mets fans are getting impatient.

As for Wright, he will be on the payroll through 2025, whether he is on the roster or not.  $15.5 million of his contract is deferred, and will be paid in installments during 2021 and 2025.  That will help free up salary in the near future, but the Mets better be in stronger financial shape nine years from now.

Andres Torres signed a one-year deal with the Giants, the team on which he had his only good major league season.  So now San Francisco has both Pagan and Torres, and the Mets will likely start the year without Ramon Ramirez, the key part of that trade from a year ago.  The trade can now fairly be characterized as a bust, but at the time I liked it, mainly for Ramirez.  But Ramon decided to have the worst year of his life in 2012, so it didn’t work out.

The only truly big move that is likely to occur is going to be either the extension or trade of R.A. Dickey.  Dickey appeared to be having a blue (blue blue blue) Christmas at the Mets holiday party this week.  He wants the contract talks to move faster.  The Mets appear to be waiting on the trade market now that Zack Greinke is off the board.  Everyone has thrown in their speculation, but it looks about 50/50 whether he will be signed or not.  They could get a good return on a trade for R.A., but Dickey gives the Mets some identity (not to mention his ace status on the mound), and is truly a feel-good story.  When was the last time a Met was on the cover of Sports Illustrated?

For now, it’s time for us Mets fans to wait out the front office.  Don’t expect any big moves this year.  More payroll will be coming off the books following the 2013 season.  Until then, your loyalty will be tested.

The Dodgers appear to be celebrating Chanukah, as they are receiving the gift of a new player every day. Does that mean they’ll be done with their offseason acquisitions by Friday night?