Mets' Wright plans to stay at 3B, regardless of A-Rod rumors

The Mets do have an opening at second base, but Wright has never played there.

"If shortstop opens up, I played shortstop in high school," he said.

Minaya has been guarded about the team's potential interest in Rodriguez, who hit .314 with 54 homers and 156 RBI this season and is likely to win his third AL MVP award next week.

The Mets have other issues to deal with this offseason as well. For one, they need a starting catcher after Wright's buddy, Paul Lo Duca, filed for free agency.

"I have zero sense about Paul," Wright said. "I haven't talked to him in a couple weeks."

New York also is waiting to hear whether Tom Glavine wants to return, retire or pitch for his hometown Atlanta Braves.

"If he wants to go back to Atlanta, we'll try our best to beat him up," Wright said, adding he hopes Glavine will stay with the Mets. "I think every team, not only us, needs pitching."

Wright visited kids at NYU Medical Center on Monday, and his foundation will host its third annual "Do the Wright Thing" gala Thursday night.

The two-time All-Star said most fans have been supportive this offseason, even though the Mets collapsed in September and missed the playoffs.

"You'll get a few people every now and then that come up and will throw in what we did wrong or what they think we did wrong. But we knew that we didn't get the job done," Wright said. "We have to accept responsibility for that. We didn't expect all offseason to go around and nobody say anything and pat us on the back and say it's all right.

"It's tough to say we'll get 'em next year because we had an opportunity to get it done this year," he added.