Intertwined in president of baseball operations David Stearns’ search for new talent with the Mets will be deciding how to proceed with some of the old.

The Mets have 16 arbitration-eligible players, the most of any National League team. The high count is partly a byproduct of acquiring older, experienced players for gaps that couldn’t be filled through the farm system in recent seasons.

Stearns and his staff must decide by Nov. 17 whether to tender contracts to the arbitration-eligible players.

A closer look (with all salary projections from MLB Trade Rumors):