"Fred Wilpon had nearly completed his brisk and silent glide through the lobby of the Pfister Hotel late Thursday morning. As the Mets owner pushed open glass doors leading to the sidewalk, trailed by a pack of reporters, he fielded one inquiry: Is it important for his team to re-sign Jose Reyes?

Wilpon laughed, said, "What kind of question is that?" and left the Pfister.

So ended this year's GM and owners meetings, a week defined for the Mets by Miami's offer to Reyes, and the beginning of their own search for relievers. On Tuesday, Fox Sports reported that the Marlins began negotiations with a six-year, $90 million proposal to New York's homegrown shortstop.

According to Mets insiders, that news did not alter their reluctance to offer six years to a player they consider fragile. Otherwise, because agent Peter Greenberg was out of the country this week, the winter's chief storyline did not move forward."