Early in the week, reports started swirling around the baseball world that the Mets and face of the franchise David Wright were approaching an agreement to the long-awaited contract extension that would keep Wright a Met probably for the rest of his career. Fans started texting one another, myself included, giddy with excitement and full of hope that finally, the organization was going to make the right move. It was really the first bit of news any of us had received in terms of the negotiations, as both sides wanted to keep the talks mostly out of the media.
And that was the problem. As quickly as Mets fans became full of optimism, we were all put back in our place by none other than Wright himself. In response to the reports that the Mets had made their “final offer” and that things appeared close, Wright came out and said he was “disappointed” with the reports and that they were “inaccurate”.
Great. Wonderful. Awesome.
Just as it seemed the Mets were finally doing what was logical and appropriate for their biggest star, everything seemed to be falling apart right before our eyes. All that hope disappeared with one simple sentence and statement. It really felt like the Mets blew it because some anonymous source decided now was a good time to start running his mouth about the negotiations when things seemed to be creeping towards a conclusion.
Immediately, the conversations between Mets fans turned from where this team can go with Wright to what are we going to get in trade for Wright. It was depressing.
Then 3 a.m. Friday morning happened. You know, the normal hour in which all news breaks in New York. WFAN’s long-time Mets reporter Ed Coleman took to the airwaves, informing the public that things between the Mets and Wright were no longer close. Instead, things were official. The Mets would make David Wright the highest paid player in team history over the life of his brand new seven-year deal, which starts after the 2013 season.
It’s been about 24 hours, and I’ve let the news settle in. I’ve talked with close friends and, of course, my dad, who is mainly responsible for my fanhood in the first place. While I know and understand what this contract means to the Mets and the fan base as a whole, I’m not sure others truly do.
In the history of the Mets franchise, only one player (Ed Kranepool) has had a successful tenure with the Mets and only the Mets. Even the best players in the history of this franchise (Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Keith Hernandez) left the Mets to continue their career elsewhere or were brought in from another organization.
This contract becomes much more than just a contract for the Mets. It represents a player that the organization recognizes as not just someone who puts people in the seats, but someone who can be the team’s identity. Someone who can build the brand not just as a player, but as an individual. It marks the signaling from the front office that here is a player that is truly special, one that already owns half the Mets record book. Here is a guy that one day will likely have his #5 retired next to Seaver’s 41 and (in all likelihood) Piazza’s 31. Here’s a guy that won’t just be a great Met people will talk about. David Wright has become the Met people will talk about.
He’s the franchise. He’s our Jeter, our Chipper, our Tim Salmon (Angels fans like that one, I hope).
He’s more than a great baseball player who’s played for the Mets.
He’s our guy. This contract makes that official.
And it’s a really, really nice feeling.
Alexander Herd
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