Mets GM says team not giving up on this year

Next up, Carlos Beltran? Not so fast, says Sandy Alderson.

Even with Francisco Rodriguez on his way to Milwaukee and Atlanta showing no signs of slowing down in the wild-card race, the Mets general manager said he isn’t ready to concede the season, which is what the Mets would be doing by trading Beltran before the non-waiver deadline on July 31.

“[From] my standpoint, this is certainly not a significant change in direction in our continued attempt to win games this season,” the Alderson said of the Rodriguez deal in a conference call yesterday. “One could view it as a slight impediment. What we have discussed [is that] over the next few weeks [how important] each of our upcoming games can and will be. We’re obviously in a delicate part of the season and wins and losses might dictate what we do.”

That may be difficult to believe, especially because Beltran has emerged as one of the top offensive players available in the trade market. He also has expressed a willingness, if not a desire, to go elsewhere if it means playing for a contender. The Mets are 71⁄2 games behind the Braves in the wild-card race.

Alderson also said David Wright will play his first rehab game for Port St. Lucie tomorrow, as he comes back from a stress fracture in his lower back. Wright is expected to rejoin the Mets next Friday in Florida against the Marlins. Ike Davis, out with a bone bruise, won’t be back much before the deadline, and that’s a best-case scenario.

“We have had discussions with other clubs about a variety of players,” Alderson said. “Carlos’ situation is well-known ... and it’s not surprising given his situation and performance this year that a lot of interest has been expressed. We have not pursued that interest in great length to this point.

“I do want to make it clear that the Rodriguez trade should not signal anything to anyone about Beltran. The far more important situation is how we play in the next two to three weeks.”

The Mets will, however, be left with a gaping hole in the back of the bullpen, and Bobby Parnell figures to be on the top of the list to fill it while Ryota Igarashi is the most likely to fill Rodriguez’s roster spot.

Alderson indicated that the recent performances of Parnell and Jason Isringhausen helped make shipping Rodriguez to the Brewers easier, but he likely would have made the move even if Blaine Boyer had been the only alternative to save $17.5 million next year.

Still, this gives Parnell the chance to prove that he’s capable of taking another step.

“I do feel comfortable we have strong candidates within our existing bullpen,” Alderson said. “It will be important to see how they can perform short-term for us so we can make a decision long-term, as well.”

Because Parnell figures to be more of a part of the Mets’ future, the hard-throwing righty likely will be given an opportunity.

“The fact that [Isringhausen] has pitched in this role before and been effective in that role and pitched effectively this year, that certainly has been a plus,” Alderson said. “I’ll also say the way Bobby Parnell has thrown the last three weeks has been very impressive.”

Parnell is 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA since June 1 and has struck out 18 and walked just three in 16 2⁄3 innings in that span.

He has struggled with command before and didn’t fare well when the Mets tried to make him an eighth-inning pitcher last year.