Conforto over Harper? Why Bryce doesn’t fit usual Mets narrative

Michael Conforto, Bryce Harper and Brandon NimmoPORT ST. LUCIE — The answer is not always that they are cheap.

The miserly caricature of the Wilpons is the easy trope whenever the Mets fail to acquire a shiny object, as occurred again last weekend, when Bryce Harper signed with the Phillies. Yet these both can be true: The Mets should spend more on payroll, but also they began this offseason with 99 problems, and corner outfield ain’t one.

“Sometimes people assume what is available is what you want and what you need,” Brodie Van Wagenen said.

I have been asking executives and scouts the past few days, if both cost the same, who would you take the next five years: Michael Conforto or Harper?…