Mets need Amed Rosario to take next step in development

Amed RosarioPORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets’ bigwigs spent their Valentine’s Day evening wining and dining Adeiny Hechavarria, and they landed him with the prospect of earning as much as $5 million with the 2019 club.

The same bigwigs felt better trading top prospects Justin Dunn and Jarred Kelenic to the Mariners for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz because they retained their top prospect, Andres Gimenez.

Amed Rosario very well might make less money than Hechavarria this season, and he lacks Gimenez’s new-car allure. Yet does any doubt exist that the Mets’ best chance for a sustained run comes with Rosario as their everyday shortstop?

“We protected him at times last year, and the gloves are off…