NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ben Zobrist won’t be taking his talents to Howard Beach.
In a punch to the gut for the Mets, the veteran utilityman Tuesday agreed to terms with the Cubs on a four-year deal worth $56 million, pending a physical. The rapid change in winds surprised Mets officials, who a day earlier were extremely optimistic they would sign the 34-year-old Zobrist to fill their hole at second base.
But that was before it had become clear the Cubs were involved with Zobrist, who has a tight relationship with manager Joe Maddon from their time together in Tampa Bay. Chicago is also closer in proximity to Zobrist’s Nashville-area home than New York. A source indicated the Mets’ offer to Zobrist was “similar” to the Cubs.
“I don’t think this was about money,” Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said. “It was about him finding a place that fit. I think he liked a lot about what we were, but he had some history with [Maddon] and in Chicago it’s a little closer to home for him.”
Now the Mets have to regroup. Team officials arrived at these Winter Meetings with no defined Plan B behind Zobrist, whom they believed would be an upgrade over free-agent Daniel Murphy at second base.
According to a source, the Mets haven’t ruled out circling back to Murphy, but only if they can get him on a one- or two-year deal, which isn’t likely to happen. The Mets expect Murphy to get four years on the open market.
“We’ve been in contact with him and we’ll continue to stay in contact with him and we’ll see where that goes,” Ricco said.
Other free-agent possibilities include Howie Kendrick and Asdrubal Cabrera, but the Mets seem lukewarm on both. Ian Desmond is an option who can play shortstop, moving Wilmer Flores to second base, but the Mets aren’t thrilled with the drop-off the Nationals free agent had defensively last season.
The Mets have some interest in Neil Walker, but are skeptical a trade will materialize for the Pirates second baseman.
But the Mets could also give the job to 21-year-old Dilson Herrera, who has been touted by team officials in recent weeks.
Ricco said the Mets could go with Herrera and use their money in another area, such as the bullpen or outfield.
“Certainly the resources we had targeted to allocate to [Zobrist] are now available to us to do other things,” Ricco said.
Though the Mets are extremely unlikely to deal Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard or Steven Matz for lineup help, they could use Jon Niese as a chip.
According to sources, the Mets have received inquiries from teams regarding Niese. The veteran lefty, who is owed $9 million next season, can be had because the Mets are comfortable with the idea of using Rafael Montero as the fifth starter until Zack Wheeler returns from Tommy John surgery rehab next summer.
Ricco said teams continue to ask about the Mets’ Big Four starting pitchers, but there are no plans to deal any of them.
“They still ask, and that’s what these meetings are for, to kind of throw things out there,” Ricco said. “Our answer is pretty much it’s very unlikely. They do ask and we sort of direct them toward some of our other assets.”
The Mets courted Zobrist heavily, which included a day-long visit with him in New York last week, during which the player explored potential places to live in Westchester and Connecticut. Originally, the club hoped to get Zobrist on a three-year deal, but added a fourth year when it became obvious their original proposal wasn’t enough.
The Cubs traded Starlin Castro to the Yankees on Tuesday to clear room in their infield for Zobrist, who won a World Series with the Royals in 2015 after spending nine seasons with Maddon in Tampa Bay.
Mets manager Terry Collins had Zobrist penciled in as his No. 2 hitter.
“He’s a good player, and you want good players,” Collins said. “He’s made himself an outstanding offensive player. He brings the flexibility that is huge in the National League.”
The Cubs will enjoy that flexibility.
— additional reporting by Ken Davidoff