Fed-up Alderson says Mets can spend but seeing is believing

Money talks. The Mets continue to walk.

Sandy Alderson said Thursday he has been given the green light to spend as much of ownership’s money as needed to improve the Mets, if the right trade were to come along.

Asked if he has been given the OK by ownership to make a major trade and bring on a major contract, Alderson answered, “I’ve said before that we have the ability to take on money.”

Pressed for a rough estimate, Alderson bristled and said, “C’mon.’’

Can you take on a major contract?

“I think the answer to that is yes. OK, now none of you will believe me,’’ Alderson said, “so I’m not sure why you asked the question and insisted on the answer.’’

Seeing is believing, Sandy, so it will be interesting to see who walks through the clubhouse door for the Mets by the time the trade deadline hits.

A big-money player or a cheap rental? Or nobody?

Don’t expect Ben Zobrist, either.

The Mets and Fred and Jeff Wilpon have to spend big money to prove they will spend money.

Will the Mets continue to send out a minor league lineup behind stud pitchers?

The Mets’ No. 4 hitter Thursday night against the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw at Citi Field came into the game batting .170. That was John Mayberry Jr.

Want more?

The No. 5 hitter was hitting .179. That was Eric Campbell.

Nothing against Soup, but you have to be nuts to consider him a No. 5 hitter in the major leagues.

During his 23-minute press conference, Alderson said he believes the Mets bench players have to play more.

OK.

Without being asked, manager Terry Collins volunteered “we’re not embarrassed’’ by the lineup the Mets put out there Thursday with the Michael Cuddyer situation worsening — as often happens with Mets injuries.

Remember when Alderson & Co. said they expected David Wright back by the All-Star break? Wright is coming to New York next week to begin “baseball activities.’’ He will have to go through a complete rehab program, so who knows when he could be back at Citi Field to play baseball.

Alderson repeated he will not trade any of his top young pitchers, though, so it remains to be seen what kind of deal can be made with second-tier prospects.

“We have great starting pitching that will get better over time,’’ Alderson said, insisting no deals are imminent. ”We’re cognizant of our strengths and our weaknesses. We are looking hard to improve those weaknesses. But we’re realistic too. Is there a window [for the pitching]? Yes, but as I said, it’s not a few weeks wide, it’s the longer view we have to take.

“It doesn’t mean we are not going to do anything, it doesn’t mean we are not trying to make a deal. We are certainly aware of the team we have and the imbalance we have now with pitching and offense.

“We’re not just looking at rentals. It could be a role player; it could be somebody more significant.’’

Yet when he was asked if would it be an unsuccessful deadline if the Mets did not make a trade, Alderson said, “Not as long as we’ve worked as hard as I think we need to and have worked the process as hard as we possibly can.’’

The Mets have to go a long way to win back the public trust in this team. It would have to take someone like a Troy Tulowitzki to be added to the Mets lineup to convince the fans the Mets really will take on big money.

The Mets are lucky to have a pitching staff that does not cost much as well because Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey are so early in their careers as well as Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz. DeGrom, Harvey and Matz all were signed by the Omar Minaya administration, so essentially, Alderson is playing with house money.

Alderson said he has the green light to spend big money.

Money talks.

So far the Mets have walked.