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Mets extend GM Sandy Alderson through 2017

By WTOP Staff

MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Sandy Alderson is sticking with the New York Mets — and he might have some more money to spend.

The team announced a contract extension Tuesday for Alderson that runs through 2017 and gives the general manager a chance to finish the rebuilding project he started four years ago.

“Obviously, we’re not at the point we’d like to be in terms of our won-loss record and the overall success of the team,” Alderson said on a conference call. “I don’t think we’re that far away. I really don’t believe it is going to take a giant leap to get to a playoff-competitive level.”

Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said the club exercised Alderson’s option for next season and added two years to his deal. Wilpon said ownership is pleased with the job Alderson has done, and he has payroll flexibility to continue to improve the team through free agency or trades.

“I don’t know whether there will be a dramatic spike or not. I don’t feel that we will necessarily be constrained by the payroll next year,” Alderson said.

He did confirm that manager Terry Collins will return. Collins is under contract through next season, with an option for 2016.

“He’s done an exceptional job for us, I believe. He’s energetic. He’s passionate; his work ethic is second to none,” Alderson said. “It’s been a pleasure to watch how the team has responded to Terry.”

New York (76-81) needs to win its final five games to avoid a sixth consecutive losing season since moving into Citi Field. Before the season, Alderson challenged the Mets to win 90 games, a number even hard-core fans found overly optimistic.

The Mets are 301-342 under Alderson and Collins.

“We finally have gone through some of these rougher years, where the expectations that we have on ourselves moving into next year should be pretty high,” captain David Wright said in Washington. “I’m very optimistic and excited about what the very near future holds, and I’m glad those two guys will be able to kind of head this ship that’s going the direction that we’re going.”

The 66-year-old Alderson said Tuesday he is grateful for the opportunity to stay on and credited his front-office staff.

“I understand not everything has gone according to plan,” he said. “I do believe we’ve made some progress toward our ultimate goals.”

Since replacing Omar Minaya as GM following the 2010 season, Alderson has pared the payroll from about $133 million that year to less than $92 million on opening day this season, which ranked 19th among 30 major league teams. But a thin farm system has improved under his watch, and the Mets gradually appear to be getting better — at least on the mound.

By trading older players such as Carlos Beltran, R.A. Dickey and Marlon Byrd, Alderson acquired pitcher Zack Wheeler, catcher Travis d’Arnaud, second baseman Dilson Herrera, reliever Vic Black and top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard.

With injured ace Matt Harvey and reliever Bobby Parnell expected back from Tommy John surgery next year, the Mets have the makings of a quality staff that includes Wheeler, NL Rookie of the Year contender Jacob deGrom, setup man Jeurys Familia and young closer Jenrry Mejia.

“Very, very excited,” Collins said before the Mets lost 4-2 to the Nationals. “We’re very, very close. … We’ve got a couple things we’ve got to get better at, but next year we’re going to be in the hunt, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

The offense remains an issue.

Alderson signed Wright to a $138 million, eight-year contract before the 2013 season, and the All-Star third baseman struggled with an aching shoulder this summer during the worst season of his career.

Curtis Granderson, brought in as a free agent, has 19 homers and 62 RBIs after signing a $60 million, four-year deal. Fellow outfielder Chris Young, signed to a $7.25 million, one-year contract, was released in August after batting .205 with eight homers and 28 RBIs.

“Free agency is a crapshoot. And on the other hand, you expect to hit a certain number of times,” Alderson said, acknowledging it’s an area where the Mets need to be “more successful than perhaps we’ve been in the past.”

“The player development side, we’ve done pretty well. We’ve done pretty well in trades. Free agency is problematic — not just for us but for a lot of teams,” he added.

Alderson is expected to be in the market for bats this winter, especially at shortstop and left field. He also has a decision to make about the future of All-Star second baseman Daniel Murphy, likely due a hefty raise in arbitration.

Murphy can become a free agent after the 2015 season.

“We’ve got to be more productive offensively, but there are a lot of different ways to get there,” Alderson said.

Alderson was the architect of Oakland teams that won three straight AL pennants from 1988-90 and the 1989 World Series. He also was CEO of the San Diego Padres when they won consecutive NL West titles from 2005-06.

___

AP freelance writer Ian Quillen in Washington contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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