The New York Mets and the newly acquired Puerto Rican shortstop Francisco Lindor han avoided arbitration with a $ 22.3MM settlement, According to renowned journalist Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Lindor is a SportsMeter customer. Lindor’s deal is even higher than the $ 17.5MM to $ 21.5MM arbitrage projection MLB Trade Rumors made him at the start of the low season.
The four-time All-Star was still in Cleveland then, but with the team knowing he wouldn’t extend it before free agency next winter, he decided last week to send him to the Mets on a mega exchange.
Unlike Cleveland, the Mets look well-equipped to meet the demands of 27-year-old Lindor over an extension. Lindor estimates that it will overshadow the $ 300MM mark in its next contract, but that shouldn’t serve as an obstacle for new owner Steve Cohen. However, the Mets may need to act quickly, as Lindor stated this week that it does not want to negotiate a contract during the season.
For their part, the Mets and the gardener Michael Comfort have avoided arbitration with a $ 12.25MM deal, reported New York Post reporter Joel Sherman. Conforto is a client of the Boras corporation.
Conforto, who will soon turn 28, has been an excellent offensive player since making his debut in 2015, but found another team last season. In 233 appearances on the plate, Conforto reduced 322/412/515 with nine homers. Although it benefited from a 412 batting average on in-game balls, Conforto’s 157 WRC + was good for the seventh-highest mark in the National League.
The season could be the last as Met for Conforto, who is scheduled to arrive at the free agency next winter. But Conforto has expressed interest in a contract extension in the past, and team president Sandy Alderson said in November that he hopes to “address” the issue of a new deal this low season.
Last but not least, the Mets are avoiding refereeing with the relievers Edwin Díaz, Seth Lugo and Miguel Castro. Diaz will earn $ 7mm next season, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (Twitter link). Lugo costs $ 2,925MM, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter). Castro, meanwhile, will earn $ 1.6875MM, reveals Mike Puma of the New York Post. All three pitchers are controllable until the end of the 2022 season.
Diaz is above his projected salary range of $ 5.1MM – $ 6.5mm. After a difficult first season in Queens, he was brilliant last year. The 26-year-old threw at an effectiveness of 1.75 with a strikeout rate of 45.5% which ranked third among the qualified relievers.
Lugo and Castro, meanwhile, are within their projected ranks. Lugo had some difficult final results last year, but much more impressive underlying figures. Castro was fit for the Mets, who acquired him in mid-season for the Orioles. Early today, New York also reached an agreement with Robert Gsellman and Dominic Smith.