With a item that’s substantially more depressing than the Mets’ failure to provide adequate run support for R.A. Dickey earlier this evening, ESPN’s Adam Rubin — following a prior blog post that claimed the Amazins’ would consider signing Jose Reyes to an extension while preferring to shop David Wright — elaborated on the reasoning behind such a decision.

After adding whatever Reyes commands — say $17 million a season for five years if he stays — to the 2012 salaries of Johan Santana ($24 million) and Jason Bay ($16 million), the source predicted the Mets will not have the means to retain Wright at $15 million as well.

Under the $17 million salary assumption for Reyes, that would tie up $72 million along with Santana, Bay and Wright.

And what happens if the Mets are unable to trade closer Francisco Rodriguez at the deadline and his contract vests at $17.5 million for 2012 with 55 games finished? That would be financially catastrophic for the organization. Yet manager Terry Collins has continued to use K-Rod even in non-save situations, including in a four-run win Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rodriguez already has 20 games finished, on pace for 61 — six over the threshold for his contract to kick in for next season.

Left unsaid by Rubin is the presumption Santana — due back some time in 2013 this summer —and Bay (who raised knocked in a run this evening raising his season’s total to 10) are immovable at their current salaries.