David Wright (ribcage) remains on track to start Monday's Grapefruit League opener. Wright was scratched from Saturday's intrasquad game and will sit out Sunday's intrasquad game due to left ribcage soreness, but it doesn't sound like a big deal. "We just asked him to back off," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We've got 31 exhibition games to play. We've got a long way to go. He looks terrific. He's in great shape. He's swinging the bat great and I'm not going to get him hurt in an intrasquad game."

David Wright (stiffness/soreness) was scratched from Saturday's intrasquad game. The Mets are identifying it as ''left rib-cage soreness.'' Wright was limited in workouts on Monday and Tuesday but claims to have been going at full speed since. "I was good to play today, but obviously being an intrasquad and so early, they want a few more days," Wright said. "It's their decision. If it were real games, obviously I'd be playing. They just want to go two more days and then I'll play Monday."

David Wright said he doesn't plan to approach the Mets anytime soon regarding a contract extension. The third baseman said he'll let the team come to him instead. Wright is under contract through 2013, and given that's he's coming off an injury-shortened, disappointing season, it wouldn't make much sense for him to be seeking a long-term deal right now. He'll be shooting for a big bounce-back year, which would create more leverage for him in potential negotiations of a long-term pact.

General manager Sandy Alderson said David Wright's future with the Mets will not be tied to the team's record this season. "I think that his future is independent of club performance," Alderson said. "There are certain decisions that one takes that are a function of where a team is at a particular time and so forth. But if there's anybody on the team whose performance and future is independent of the club's performance, I think it's David's.'' The Mets consider Wright the face of their franchise and remain unlikely to move him at this year's deadline. However, what's important to note is that Wright has a $16 million option in 2013 with a $1 million buyout should they decide to part ways after the season.

David Wright told Dan Martin of the New York Post on Wednesday that his back feels strong. Wright batted .254 with 13 home runs and .771 OPS over 102 games last season while dealing with a stress fracture in his lower back, but he's confident his offseason work will pay dividends in 2012. "My back feels real good," said Wright. "It was important that I got through a whole offseason to kind of strengthen it. When you get halfway or three-quarters of the way through the season, it's tough to build up that area. This offseason allowed me to build up the muscles around the bone that fractured." Wright hasn't had any follow-ups with back specialists since being cleared to play last season and doesn't anticipate it being an issue moving forward.

Adam Rubin of ESPN New York was told that if David Wright is traded during the season, the acquiring team does not get a draft pick if he leaves as a free agent following the season. Wright is owed $15 million this season, but he could void his $16 million for 2013 in the event of a trade. Many have speculated that the Mets could trade the 29-year-old third baseman later this summer, but if Rubin's source is correct, they would likely get more value in return if they pick up his option next offseason before making a deal. This way, the acquiring team would get Wright for a full year and secure draft pick compensation if he leaves as a free agent. Of course, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has repeatedly said that he has no intention to deal Wright, but given the direction of the franchise, it's not an unrealistic scenario.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said the Mets will not trade David Wright. The night that Alderson lost his premier player, Jose Reyes, he denied that the team will go into full-scale rebuilding mode. Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reported last month that if the Mets deal Wright, they would probably wait until next year's trade deadline. Wright has one guaranteed year remaining on his contract at $15 million and the Mets hold an option for 2013 at $16 million with a $1 million buyout. However, if he is traded, Wright can void the option for 2013.

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that if the Mets deal David Wright, they would likely wait until next year's trade deadline to do so. General manager Sandy Alderson told Martino last week that he would have to be "bowled over" by an offer to deal Wright, and another Mets official said they expected Wright's situation to remain "status quo" this offseason. Yet another insider said that when the Mets decided to move in the fences at Citi Field, "there was a lot of discussion about Wright," and how it would help him. It does seem unlikely that the Mets would be willing to trade Wright in the same offseason that they're likely to lose Jose Reyes, but perhaps they could barter him next July.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Mets are open to trading David Wright this offseason and are "focusing upon" the Angels as a potential trade partner. "We will listen on Wright for sure," a Mets official told Sherman. "We know we are not going to win it all in 2012. We have to hope the Phillies get old and we are in position to take advantage of that in 2013-14, and we have to figure out ways to speed the process to get there." Sherman writes that the Mets are looking for a defensive-oriented center fielder, as well as a couple pitching prospects in exchange for Wright, who will be a free agent after next season if his option isn't picked up. He mentions a deal involving Peter Bourjos, plus two of pitching prospects Tyler Chatwood, Garrett Richards and John Hellweg as one that could entice the Mets.

The Mets announced they are moving Citi Field's walls in and lowering their height next season. The walls will move in by as much as 12 feet and lowered by up to eight feet. In addition, the walls will be changed to the color blue. New York's ballpark dimensions led to a 3.78 ERA in games played at Citi Field, the sixth-lowest in the major leagues. Cavernous dimensions were also blamed for David Wright's zapped power, which produced about 30 homers a year at Shea and 18 in Citi. In terms of fantasy impact, the situation here is pretty self explanatory. Fly-ball New York pitchers lose a bit of value and hope for a reemergence from Wright begins.