There was a long table with about a dozen chairs around it, two boards stationed to the side and a screen on the far wall. Here was where the Mets’ brass would convene for the next few days, where they would discuss potential deals and debate adding a shortstop, a starting pitcher or a reliever.

The Mets still have needs, three or four of them, Alderson indicated as he spoke with reporters for more than 20 minutes Sunday without revealing much. Before the meetings had even started, it seemed he was already tempering expectations, but that has been a Mets theme for several years.

Asked how much money Alderson had left to spend, having split about $22.5 million of next year’s payroll between Chris Young and Curtis Granderson, Alderson would not give an exact number, but said simply, “We still have some room.”

He added, “I don’t want to set up expectations one way or another.”

He indicated that payroll could be about $85 million next season, which would allow him to maybe make one other significant move. He also reiterated that Ruben Tejada, his young, enigmatic shortstop, may start opening day.

“Depending how things materialize, we may live with certain weaknesses,” Alderson said. “For example, we could come out of these meetings with Tejada as our regular shortstop. Worse things could happen to us, certainly.”

If that becomes the case, Alderson would be expected to have filled some of the Mets’ other needs. He said he could add a veteran starter to replace Matt Harvey next season, but he also said that two young prospects — presumably Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero — could be in the rotation by midseason.

He said he could add a late-inning reliever but also said the bullpen would improve as younger players developed — presumably someone like Vic Black.

Alderson said he could trade either Ike Davis or Lucas Duda but also said a deal may not be made this week despite continuing discussions with other teams.

If Alderson replaces Tejada, it will probably happen via trade rather than free agency. Stephen Drew appears to be the only free-agent shortstop who would provide an obvious upgrade, and he could command a contract worth more than $10 million per year.

“I don’t want this to be viewed as a week in which we try to replace Ruben Tejada,” Alderson said. “If we have to go into the season with Ruben Tejada as our shortstop, we need to make sure we’re happy with that given what else we’ve done with the team. I think that’s very possible.”