MLB

Only one Mets prospect was off limits during trade talks

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — In the various trade scenarios that were presented to the Mets over the last week, Amed Rosario’s name was hardly mentioned.

The Mets have reiterated to potential trade partners the 21-year-old shortstop, the organization’s top prospect, is unavailable.

“And I think that is why his name didn’t come up,” general manager Sandy Alderson said before departing the winter meetings Thursday. “We’ve made that clear before and continue to make that clear when his name is mentioned, so I think clubs have gotten the message.”

Rosario is the only untouchable prospect in the Mets’ system, according to club sources. If the Mets look to trade this offseason using prospects, Dominic Smith, Gavin Cecchini, Brandon Nimmo and Gabriel Ynoa would be among the players that could be dealt.

Rosario split time between Single-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton last season. For the latter, he hit .341 in 54 games.

Alderson indicated Rosario could get exposure to third base this season in the minors, but the plan is to keep him primarily at shortstop.

“He’s athletic enough and we’re not going to harm him by playing him somewhere else,” Alderson said. “We know what he can do at shortstop, so we want to move him around while he’s still in the minor leagues in order to prepare him to fill a hole potentially at more than shortstop at the major league level, even if on a temporary basis, I think that would be important for him to be able to do that.”

Rosario, who is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas, could be on track for his major league debut at some point in 2017.

“He can be an outstanding player — I think that is why he is considered our No. 1 prospect, at a premium position,” Alderson said. “And I think it’s going to be exciting to see him in spring training.”