(Photo Courtesy of Michael Baron)
According to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com, the Mets and lefty Jonathon Niese are close to a five-year extension. Though the two sides haven’t agreed on a final total value of the contract, it could be around $30 million. Rubin said in his post:
The eventual deal is believed to be comparable to the five-year, $28.5 million deal that included two team options — for $11 million and $11.5 million — that fellow left-hander Derek Holland signed with the Texas Rangers last month. Both players have comparable major league service time and would have been eligible for free agency after the 2015 season.
The deal will likely have club options for 2017 and 2018.
Niese went 11-11 with a 4.40 ERA last season. Many think he has the talent to become an above-average number two starter.
32 comments
TRS86
4/1/2012-5:23pm at 5:23 pm (UTC -4)
Nice contract if they get it done. It also makes him very tradeable in the future, although I know none of us want that to be considered.
Stickguy
4/1/2012-5:23pm at 5:23 pm (UTC -4)
locking up guys like this at the right time is a good way to build the foundation in a cost-certain manner. Ike and Duda can come next (though they are a little behind Neise in the service time race).
ConnorUAF
4/1/2012-5:36pm at 5:36 pm (UTC -4)
Rays started a trend last year w/ the signing of Matt Moore. That’s what this seems like. Also a good move by ownership to prove to fans that they are not broke.
kingman 26
4/1/2012-5:57pm at 5:57 pm (UTC -4)
Mariners release Aaron Heilman…kind of thought he and Ollie would make a hell of a 1-2 punch…
gategem
4/1/2012-9:53pm at 9:53 pm (UTC -4)
There’s always the Long Island Ducks.
MetsFan4Decades
4/1/2012-6:08pm at 6:08 pm (UTC -4)
Nice deal, if they can get it done. They did say their plan included Niese in the rotation for some years to come.
I read earlier today something about talks to extend Dickey’s contract as well.
ConnorUAF
4/1/2012-6:18pm at 6:18 pm (UTC -4)
I would be interested in seeing what kind of deal they would sign Dickey to.
Stickguy
4/2/2012-7:29am at 7:29 am (UTC -4)
my guess, a series of 1-2 year deals (1 year + an option?)
NJstuckinTX
4/2/2012-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I can’t see him doing anything longer than another 2 year deal. Maybe a 2 year with a club option for the 3rd at the most?
saltygary
4/1/2012-6:27pm at 6:27 pm (UTC -4)
What this also does is demonstrates is that the Mets are back in business. Good move for both sides.
NJstuckinTX
4/1/2012-10:42pm at 10:42 pm (UTC -4)
First off, site looks spectacular. I do wish there was some space that showed who’s posted recently.
Now, as for locking Niese up, I’m excited for that contract. Locking up the homegrown talent at a reasonable contract that has control. Me likey. Let’s get it done.
gategem
4/2/2012-12:34am at 12:34 am (UTC -4)
Didn’t they do something similar with Wright and Reyes a few years back?
Stickguy
4/2/2012-7:29am at 7:29 am (UTC -4)
Yes with both guys. Lock up arbitration years, and buy out the early FA years. Turned out to be a good deal on both I think.
NJstuckinTX
4/2/2012-8:52am at 8:52 am (UTC -4)
They certainly did. Good practice all around.
darknova306
4/1/2012-10:57pm at 10:57 pm (UTC -4)
I approve of this. Locking up my boy long term! Really hoping he can have the breakout season I’ve been waiting for.
Also, I like the new site design. Though I’ll have to second NJ’s comment about wanting a space to see recent comments. Either way, it’s very slick.
darknova306
4/2/2012-1:17am at 1:17 am (UTC -4)
I see where the comments box is now. Awesome. Love the changes.
Stickguy
4/1/2012-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
so far, I like it. Took a while to find the dugout, but it seems to actually work better I think (stays open when you go elsewhere on the site).
And there is a recent comments box, just like there had been before.
Ceetar
4/2/2012-9:11am at 9:11 am (UTC -4)
oh, you guys are going to start hanging out there with me again? (I won’t be there Opening Day obviously, don’t wantto kill my battery logging in on my phone)
MetsFan4Decades
4/1/2012-11:31pm at 11:31 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmm…..I’m not seeing this new format on the mobile site. Will that be switched over too?
Signed on here on my laptop after I saw a couple of comments from you all referencing the new format.
Nice….I like it.
Mr North Jersey
4/1/2012-11:33pm at 11:33 pm (UTC -4)
TRS will look into that tomorrow most likely 4D.
MetsFan4Decades
4/1/2012-11:38pm at 11:38 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks. No hurry.
TRS86
4/2/2012-1:13am at 1:13 am (UTC -4)
The mobile site and this one will never look identical but you can change it to the desktop theme at the bottom. I have updated some of it however to match the theme. If there is anything on the mobile site that is missing that you want to see I might be able to add it.
Stickguy
4/2/2012-7:30am at 7:30 am (UTC -4)
I never tried to find the mobile site. Is it a different address, or just the same URL and I have to choose something off the phone?
MetsFan4Decades
4/2/2012-8:21am at 8:21 am (UTC -4)
I never tried accessing it from my smart phone but use it daily on my Galaxy tablet. Using the same URL, it automatically loads the mobile site.
On the old site there were some options missing on the mobile site – like recent comments. But that was O.K. for me. It listed all posts, you could get to comments and you could add comments. I don’t think the Dugout was available via the mobile site – at least I couldn’t find it.
trs86
4/2/2012-8:50am at 8:50 am (UTC -4)
I am not sure how the dugout would work on the mobile format. However, you can always click at the bottom to return to the regular site. I have updated the mobile a little but let me know if there is a feature you are missing.
Stick
4/2/2012-8:55am at 8:55 am (UTC -4)
I do recall in the past when I wanted to log onto the dugout from my phone i could not do it from the site as you normally would, but I was able to go tot he frog place (whatever that site that hosts the thing) and get in that way, with some random user name assigned.
but it was not an easy thing to use from a phone.
gategem
4/2/2012-12:41am at 12:41 am (UTC -4)
In honor of this new format I changed my avatar.
TRS86
4/2/2012-1:15am at 1:15 am (UTC -4)
NJ, you have outdone yourself buddy. This place is great. I am glad to take any small part of the credit!
MetsFan4Decades
4/2/2012-7:10am at 7:10 am (UTC -4)
Thanks for the updates on the mobile site. I’ll check it out after work but I’m sure it’ll be fine.
Echoing the kudos to NJ and yourself on this new format. Very sleek, up-to-date kind of feel and easy on these old eyes.
MetsFan4Decades
4/2/2012-7:14am at 7:14 am (UTC -4)
Love the Banner with the 50th year anniversary and the Kid 8 patch. I see many Mets blogs added the Kid patch to their websites.
mrose
4/2/2012-8:20am at 8:20 am (UTC -4)
love this new design!
gategem
4/2/2012-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
Great work, NJ. The graphics now matches the excellence of the comments.