The Mariners are targeting Nelson Cruz, Carlos Beltran - MLB

The fact that they’re looking for pop is not surprising. But Buster raises a good question:

Mariners are said to be targeting Nelson Cruz and Carlos Beltran. A major question looms: Will elite free agents seriously consider Seattle?

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 26, 2013

Cruz I could see, simply because I feel like his market may be a bit constrained overall and Seattle may represent his best bet. Beltran has many more options and the question of “do I go to Seattle?” is highly unlikely to ever come up for him.

As for hitters steering clear of Seattle in general? Probably worth noting that, while Safeco did not become a hitter’s haven as a result of moving in the fences before the 2013 season, it did catapult from the worst park for hitters in baseball in 2012 to middle-of-the-pack this past season. Granted, single season park factors can be misleading, but it may be something where, over time, the place starts to lose its reputation as the ballpark where hitters go to die.

PITTSBURGH — The New York Mets will have to dig out of an early-season hole without star first baseman Pete Alonso.

The leading home run hitter in the majors will miss three-to-four weeks with a bone bruise and a sprain in his left wrist.

The Mets placed Alonso on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to June 8. Alonso was hit in the wrist by a 96 mph fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning of a 7-5 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday.

Alonso traveled to New York for testing on Thursday. X-rays revealed no broken bones, but the Mets will be missing one of the premier power hitters in the game as they try to work their way back into contention in the NL East.

“We got better news than it could have been,” New York manager Buck Showalter said. “So we take that as a positive. It could have been worse.”

New York had lost six straight heading into a three-game series at Pittsburgh that began Friday. Mark Canha started at first for the Mets in the opener. Mark Vientos could also be an option, though Showalter said the coaching staff may have to use its “imagination” in thinking of ways to get by without Alonso.

“I’m not going to say someone has to step up and all that stuff,” Showalter said. “You’ve just got to be who you are.”

Even with Alonso in the lineup, the Mets have struggled to score consistently. New York is 16th in the majors in runs scored.

The team also said Friday that reliever Edwin Uceta had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Uceta initially went on the IL in April with what the team called a sprained left ankle. He is expected to be out for at least an additional eight weeks.

New York recalled infielder Luis Guillorme and left-handed reliever Zach Muckenhirn from Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets sent catcher Tomás Nido to Triple-A and designated reliever Stephen Nogosek for assignment.

Nogosek is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 13 games this season.