The Yankees’ signing of Jacoby Ellsbury on Tuesday almost certainly means that Curtis Granderson‘s time in the Bronx is over. His time in New York City may not be, though.
The free-agent center fielder is engaging in talks with the New York Mets, according to CBS Sports and ESPN.com, with ESPN’s Adam Rubin reporting Wednesday that those negotiations are “intensifying.”
Granderson, who spent the last four years with the Yankees after beginning his career in Detroit, is reportedly seeking a five-year contract worth $17 million a year. The Mets are pushing for a three-year deal, both outlets reported, but would be willing to add on a fourth year if necessary.
Prior to a pair of injuries that limited him to 61 games in 2013, Granderson had been incredibly productive in New York, turning in consecutive 40-home run, 100-RBI seasons. His bat would infuse some much-needed power into an anemic Mets lineup that ranked 23rd in baseball in runs scored. No Mets player other than Marlon Byrd, who was dealt to Pittsburgh in August, hit more than 15 homers or drove in more than 78 runs last season.
CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports that the Mets are also interested in Nelson Cruz but seem to prefer Granderson.
