ESPN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Mets, as they maintained would be the case, did not select a player for themselves in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft Thursday morning, which wrapped up the winter meetings. (They did select left-hander Kyle Lobstein, but he is headed to the Tigers in a prearranged deal for modest cash.)

Other than formally introducing David Wright, who gave a hearty endorsement of the plan going forward, the Mets (like the Yankees) overall had a quiet week.

The same work remains to be done as when they arrived:

• Resolve the R.A. Dickey situation.

• Find a righty-hitting catching complement for Josh Thole.

• Add two righty-hitting outfielders.

• Retool the bullpen leading into Frank Francisco.

Mets insiders continue to portray it more likely that Dickey stays than goes in a trade -- with or without a contract extension beyond 2013.

The Los Angeles Dodgers could be a wild card, though. If they lose out on Zack Greinke to the Texas Rangers and miss out on Korean left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin or free-agent Anibal Sanchez, too, they likely would engage the Mets about Dickey. (L.A. wants to add two frontline pitchers -- preferably hard throwers.)

Miguel Olivo appears the top free-agent target for the Mets at catcher. Sandy Alderson said a trade was unlikely to materialize. The GM added that the Mets may be forced to go with Anthony Recker, who was a waiver claim from the Chicago Cubs.

Scott Hairston and the Mets still could work out a deal. The remaining free agents that fit the Mets' profile appear to include Cody Ross, Jeff Baker, Matt Diaz, Reed Johnson and Austin Kearns.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Sandy Alderson said the Mets expect to not select a player in the major league phase of Thursday's 10 a.m. Rule 5 draft.

Two years ago, the Mets selected Brad Emaus and Pedro Beato in the Rule 5 draft. Both made the major league team, and Beato went wire-to-wire with the major league club for the 2010 season and officially became the team's property.

Emaus flopped in April and the Mets began the process of offering the infielder back to his original club.

The Mets did not make a selection last year, and they lost hard-throwing reliever Rhiner Cruz to the Houston Astros. Cruz stuck with Houston for the entire season and became Astros property.

The Mets selected second baseman Brad Emaus from Toronto and right-hander Pedro Beato from Baltimore and lost right-hander Elvin Ramirez to Washington in the Rule 5 draft.

Emaus, 24, hit a combined .290 with 15 homers and 75 RBIs between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Las Vegas last season.

"He's a second baseman/third baseman," GM Sandy Alderson said. "We're very high on his potential as an everyday player out of the Toronto organization. [Former Jays GM] J.P. [Ricciardi], [and new Mets scouts from Toronto] Roy Smith and Jim D'Aloia, Paul [DePodesta] know him pretty well and felt strongly about him. So we're very pleased that he was there."

Beato, 24, hails from Xaverian High School in Brooklyn and was originally drafted by the Mets in the 17th round of the 2005 draft but was a year removed from Tommy John surgery and did not sign. He went in the first round the following year to the Orioles. Beato went 4-0 with a 2.11 in 43 relief appearances for Double-A Bowie last season. Alderson expects him to compete for a bullpen spot.

"Actually, we were surpised that he was available to us in the second round," the GM said. "A power arm, probably out of the bullpen, and somebody who can compete for an everyday job. So we're happy with that."

Ramirez, 23, spent the bulk of last season at Class A St. Lucie and has walked 163 in 306 2/3 career minor league innings. Still, he has been registering 97 mph in the Dominican winter league and has shown better control.

"He throws hard, has had some command issues in the past, is having a good season so far in the Dominican winter league over 20 innings," Alderson said. "There's always a risk with a Single-A pitcher who doesn't see a lot of higher-level competition but has good stuff. So we'll see where that goes."

A Rule 5 selection costs $50,000 and must remain on the major league roster the entire season in order to become the new team's property. Otherwise, he must clear waivers and then be offered back to his former team for $25,000.

The Mets did not lose any players in the minor league phases of the draft. They selected right-handers Ronny Morla and Ricky Brooks in the Triple-A round and outfielder Quintin Berry in the Double-A round.