Alderson Considers Best Way to Flesh Out Mets" Rotation Jenrry Mejia is one option for Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson to fill a spot in the rotation. A free-agent pickup is possible, too. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As baseball's annual winter meetings kicked into gear Monday, the Mets were busy working on complementary deals that would fill out their roster. Sandy Alderson, the no-longer-impoverished general manager, had three or four more needs to address, some trade chips available and roughly $10 million to $12 million to spend. He said that he had been so busy that he missed Sunday night's episode of "Homeland." "So don't say anything, O.K.?" he added. He was more serious discussing, in vague terms, what he might do next. He had already accomplished a good deal, adding the free-agent outfielders Chris Young and Curtis Granderson at a likely cost of $23 million on the 2014 payroll. His No. 1 need seems to be finding a veteran starting pitcher who is not very expensive and could help fill out a rotation that has Zack Wheeler, Dillon Gee and Jon Niese but will be without Matt Harvey until 2015. Alderson said he would be hesitant to give a free-agent starting pitcher a multiyear deal, only because he expected his two top pitching prospects, Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero, to be ready to join the major league rotation sooner rather than later. He said he would prefer not to bring either up until midseason, following the formula he followed with Harvey in 2012 and Wheeler in 2013, but indicated he might not have the luxury to be that patient. "Ideally, we'd like to ease guys in," Alderson said. But these may not be ideal times. Another option for the rotation is Jenrry Mejia, who Alderson said will compete for a spot in spring training. Mejia has been an elusive prospect for the Mets because of a series of arm injuries, one of which required Tommy John elbow surgery. Indeed, Alderson said he wondered if Mejia could stay healthy for a sustained period. Last season, Mejia joined the rotation in the second half and pitched effectively in five starts, with a 2.70 earned run average, but then was shut down to have surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. He is still only 24. In addition, Alderson has met with a representative for Bartolo Colon, who is 16 years older than Mejia. But Colon, almost defying logic, went 18-6 for Oakland in 2013, with a 2.65 E.R.A. in 30 starts. He may be looking for more money than the Mets want to pay him. Another potential candidate, Bronson Arroyo, has proved to be remarkably durable for Cincinnati during the past eight seasons. But at 36, he is seeking a multiyear deal perhaps worth close to $10 million a year, which is also probably too rich for the Mets, even if they did just give Granderson $60 million over four years. It might make the most sense for Alderson to take a flier on a pitcher such as Daisuke Matsuzaka or Johan Santana. Matsuzaka allowed just four runs in his final four starts for the Mets last season after being acquired almost as an afterthought. However, Alderson said, there have been no discussions aimed at bringing back Matsuzaka. Santana, battered by injuries, has not pitched in two of the past three seasons and is finally off the Mets" payroll. But would Alderson bring him back at an extremely reduced rate? Wait and see, Alderson said. Until that time, there's that episode of "Homeland" he would like to take a peek at.