The New York Mets got busy yesterday, agreeing to contract terms with catcher Francisco Alvarez, starter David Peterson and three other pitchers--Tyler Megill, Huascar Brazoban and Reed Garrett.
The contract agreements were part of a series of agreements across MLB as teams seek to avoid arbitration with some players while getting the money numbers on others locked down before spring training, as reported by NBCSports com.
Peterson’s contract is the most significant. His deal is for one-year, $8.1 million, and he’ll get raise of $3.475 million after going 9-6 with a 4.22 ERA in 30 starts. He’s a possible trade piece, but with this money number Peterson could also start the season in the rotation. He’s also a candidate for a swing role depending on what moves the Mets make going forward to clarify their rotation.
Alvarez’s contract is much smaller, but his potential is far higher. He gets a one-year, $2.4 million contract, but Alvarez also qualifies for arbitration as a Super Two player. Expectations are high for the catcher after the 24-year old Alvarez hit .256/.339/.447 over 76 games after dealing with injuries and doing a stint at Triple A Syracuse.
The Mets are hoping Alvarez can supply some of the power lost due to trading Brandon Nimmo and letting free agent first baseman Pete Alonso walk in free agency. He's been one of the Mets most promising prospects for several years now, but it's time for him to deliver.
The contract situations of both Megill and Garrett are injury-related. Megill underwent Tommy John in September, while Garrett had the surgery in October, so both players are expected to miss next season.
Both also got one-year deals, and Megill’s number was $2.5 million in a situation in which the Mets could have non-tendered him. Garrett, meanwhile, is a Super Two player, and his contract was for $1.3 million. The 33-year old reliever is under Mets control through 2029, so the Mets are hoping for an eventual bounce-back season after the surgery.
Brazoban is a 36-year old reliever who rode the Syracuse shuttle in September. He’s also a Super Two player who’s eligible for arbitration, and he had a 3.57 ERA in 63 innings for the Mets last year. Brazoban still has an option year left, so he could spend another year riding the shuttle, but he showed enough down the stretch for the Mets to hope he makes the roster and stick.