WASHINGTON — Sandy Alderson carries with him a vision for the future of the Mets. The Mets GM also lives in reality. Sometimes, Alderson explained before last night’s game against the Nationals, those two worlds converge. In those moments, when the present abuts the future, the team veers into what Alderson called “a gray area.”

The vision involves homegrown talent buoying the club toward division titles in the coming years, perhaps as soon as 2013, with the farm system resuscitating the franchise. The reality involves his currently banged-up big-league club, scratching to stay afloat in search of a wild-card spot.

In deciding upon a starter for Saturday’s game against the Dodgers, the vision won out. Miguel Batista will start. Matt Harvey, the top prospect who auditioned for the role on Monday, will remain in Triple A.

“We want to make sure that when he starts his major-league career it’s an auspicious start,” Alderson said. “And that it is independent of issues that exist at the major-league level. He’s knocking on the door. We can hear him. But we thought this was the best decision.”

That same logic trickles into discussions on the trade market as the July 31 deadline approaches. Alderson laid out his club’s desires: Upgrading the bullpen is “the No. 1 priority.” A deal for a starting pitcher is unlikely. No top-level, soon-to-arrive prospects will be dealt, he said.

“We don’t want to do anything to disrupt 2013 and 2014,” Alderson said. “If we think somebody can help us in ’13 and ’14, we’re going to be very reluctant to make a move with that player.”

Still, Alderson took pains to insist that the Mets can be considered “buyers.” As evidence, Alderson described how the team last week “redeployed” the entirety of its professional scouting staff to observe big-league clubs.

Last summer, as the team collected information preparing to trade Carlos Beltran, those same scouts focused on minor-league clubs. Now they are looking at Houston (Brett Myers), Kansas City (Jonathan Broxton), San Diego (Huston Street) and wherever else relievers may be sold.

Weren't we buying yesterday, and weren't all our scouts dispatched to watch major league players?