"Speaking publicly for the first time about Jose Reyes since the shortstop became a free agent on Sunday, general manager Sandy Alderson reiterated what the Daily News reported on Friday: The Mets will not begin with an offer designed to overwhelm the shortstop, and the team does not expect a a resolution for several months.

"There are some situations where a player might indicate what it would take for him to forgo the free agent market," Alderson said Monday. "There are some situations where a club might try to make a preemptive offer.

"I don't think either one of those things is going to happen. I don't think Jose is going to give us a number for which he would forgo free agency, and I don't think we're in a position to make what I would characterize as a preemptive offer.""