Sandy Alderson expressed hope that settlements would be reached with R.A. Dickey and Angel Pagan before next month's scheduled arbitration hearing dates.

Dickey is poised to be a free agent next offseason, and last week expressed optimism the sides could settle on a multi-year deal. Alderson did not explicity rule out that possibility Wednesday.

"I prefer not to talk about contract negotiations in the public," Alderson said. "However, I think I have indicated in the past that we have some flexibility in that regard. So we’ll see where that takes us."

If the sides go to a hearing and don't settle beforehand, an arbitrator chooses one figure or the other for a one-year deal -- not some number in between.

Dickey requested a $4.7 million salary for 2011, with the Mets countering at $3.35 million. Pagan, who cannot be a free agent until after the 2012 season, requested a salary of $4.2 million, with the Mets countering at $3.0625 million. Mike Pelfrey settled at the deadline to exchange figures at $3.925 million, with the possibility to earn another $50,000 in incentives.

"I certainly hope we don’t have to do that," Alderson said about going to arbitration with Dickey or Pagan. "I don’t think that’s ever a club’s goal to go to arbitration. So hopefully we’ll be able to work something out between now and the hearing dates. And I’m optimistic. We’ve got one done right at the exchange date. So I’m hopeful certainly we’ll get one more done and hopefully both."