Mets Morning News: 2012 Payroll, Keeping Reyes, & Where Will MurphyPlay?

General manager Sandy Alderson met with reporters yesterday to talk payroll and Jose Reyes, along with a myriad of other things.

Payroll is expected to be between $100 million and $110 million next season. Thanks to Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger, here is part of the transcript from the interview with Alderson:

You told writers in Buffalo that the payroll for next year would be between $100 million to $110 million. Was that hypothetical or reality?

I think we’re going to be somewhere in that range. I don’t see us going below $100 million. But as is pretty well-documented, I don’t see us being where we are today, either.

So $100 million to $110 million?

Well, somewhere in that range. I wouldn’t say that $110 million is a cap.

Sandy & Co. must now begin working to re-sign Jose Reyes who is a free agent this offseason. Don't expect anything big to happen any time soon though.

"If history is any guide, most players who get to this point don't see any reason to make a decision in the next 30 days -- they are that close to free agency," Alderson said. "You wouldn't want people to expect something is going to happen -- it certainly could -- but we just have to wait and see how it develops."

Alderson also praised Daniel Murphy. What will Murphy's position on the team be next season? Depends on who comes back next season, and who doesn't.

"Where (Murphy) fits will in part be a function of where everyone else fits. And from whom we have to choose to fit at those positions," Alderson said. "But I do think he'll be a very important part of our team. And whether that's at one position, all the time, as a starter, or at different positions off the bench, we'll just have to see based on the other personnel that we have."