[ad_1]
Francisco Lindor’s cost to the Mets in his final year of pre-free agency control will be $ 22.3 million.
The Mets and their shortstop star avoided arbitrage on Friday by reaching an agreement on that amount. Lindor, who arrived last week in a trade that also brought Carlos Carrasco to the Mets, was due to receive $ 17.5 million last season before wages were prorated due to the pandemic. Lindor’s latest arbitration settlement is the fourth-largest in MLB history, behind only Mookie Betts ($ 27 million), Nolan Arenado ($ 26 million) and Josh Donaldson ($ 23 million).
Now the question is whether the Mets will come to a long-term deal with Lindor, 27, before he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. In his introductory press conference, Lindor said he wanted potential negotiations to be concluded before opening day.
It is possible that Lindor is heading towards a deal that is approaching or exceeding $ 300 million. The most recent mega-contract was the 12-year deal between Betts and the Dodgers last summer, worth $ 365 million.
The Mets also struck deals with Michael Conforto ($ 12.25 million), Edwin Diaz ($ 7 million), Brandon Nimmo ($ 4.7 million), Seth Lugo ($ 2.925 million), Dominic Smith ($ 2.55 million), Miguel Castro (1.6875 million) and Robert Gsellman ($ 1.3 million), avoiding arbitration. The only one to stand was JD Davis, who is heading for an arbitration hearing.
With the Mets perhaps committed to staying below the $ 210 million luxury tax threshold, every dollar counts, especially with the holes in the readout enclosure and center field that need to be corrected. As it stands, the Mets have a projected payroll of around $ 185 million for 2021.
If the Mets were to sign the best independent outfielder on the market, George Springer, it could leave them little to no room below the luxury tax threshold without losing their payroll.
Brad Hand was on the Mets’ radar shortly after the new regime arrived and is staying there, as the best option to meet a left-handed relief need.
The Mets are in the mix for Hand, according to industry sources, but weren’t close to a deal on Friday, unlike early morning reports which indicated otherwise.
Hand, 30, was the subject of an outright waiver by Cleveland in November, leaving him available to any team willing to claim him for $ 10 million. The transaction took place just before Sandy Alderson took charge of the team. Alderson later said that if he had arrived a week earlier, the Mets might have caught Hand. Cleveland instead bought out the remaining year of Hand’s contract, making him a free agent.
Justin Wilson, who has held the Mets’ leading left-hand backup role for the past two seasons, is a free agent and could be seen as if he didn’t sign Hand.
The Mets have a mix of right-handed enclosures that include Diaz, Trevor May, Jeurys Familia, Dellin Betances, Castro, Brad Brach and Gsellman. There is also the possibility that Lugo will return to the bullpen, having entered the rotation last season.
The hand was 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA and 0.773 WHIP and 16 saves last season for Cleveland. The Mets’ biggest addition at this point was May, who arrived with a two-year contract worth $ 15.5 million. Hand would also likely order a two-year contract.
[ad_2]
Source link