4
2012
Mets And Niese Agree On 5-Year Extension Worth $25M
An article by 
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, The Mets and Jon Niese have agreed to terms on a five-year, $25.5 million dollar contract extension.
It also includes a sixth-year team option for $10 million and a seventh-year team option for $10.5 million, meaning Niese could potentially earn as much as $46 million over seven seasons.
Niese was set to become a free agent after the 2015 season. Now the Mets have bought out at least one of his free-agency years, and possibly three of his free-agency years.
I’m sure the Mets will send a press release soon with all the details. – RJ
Original Post 4/2
According to ESPN New York, the Mets and Jon Niese are on the verge of agreeing to a five-year deal with options for 2017 and 2018. The deal is believed to be very similar to the five-year, $28.5 million contract Derek Holland and the Rangers came to terms on last month.
The two camps are still negotiating a price tag says Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal, but are not far apart and could finalize a deal within the week.
Personally, I think this is a great move. At the end of this contract, Niese will be anywhere from 30-32, so the Mets will have hopefully locked up his prime years. If he gets the fastball, curveball and now changeup combination that he has been working on to click on all cylinders, he could be a dominant 2nd or 3rd starter for many years with the Mets.
Good to see the Mets locking up some of the young talents. Ike and Duda shouldn’t be far behind should 2012 be successful campaigns for them, which I have no doubt it will be.
About the Author: Clayton Collier
Clayton, a Long Island native and die-hard Mets fan, started writing online about three years ago. He is currently a Journalism major with a minor in Broadcasting at Seton Hall University. Although very disappointed with the current state of the team, Clayton remains hopeful that the young prospects in the farm system will bring the Mets back to a respected franchise in baseball once again. Besides writing for MMO, Clayton is also a staff member at 89.5 WSOU, Seton Hall's modern active rock radio station. You can contact Clayton by following him on Twitter: @Clayton_Collier or E-mailing him at MaybeNextYearMets@yahoo.com
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
Last updated: 06/19/2013
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April fools joke, I’m hoping.
Why is that? It’s a wise move to lock up Niese now.
I get it…he’s a homegrown guy so people like him…but let’s be realistic…in his first 2 full MLB seasons he has shown no durability beyond 20-23 starts. Look at his numbers in 2010 and 2011…after his 23rd and 20th starts, respectively, in the past 2 seasons, his numbers took a major downturn. Plus, he averaged under 6 IP per start in those seasons, has an ERA in the mid-4′s, a WHIP over 1.4, his BAA is .283 (which is the exact same as Mike Pelfrey’s) What has this guy done (besides have a decent K/BB ratio) that makes people want to give him a lucrative 5 years deal…especially when the Mets still have the rights to this guy thru 2015?? He is not a FA until 2016…why not wait until he proves he can be a durable and, possibly, successful major league pitcher before they hand him a 5 year deal. Just doesn’t make much sense. The guy’s numbers are eerily similar to Pelfrey’s (with more K’s) and for some reason people love this kid and hate Pelf…is that because Pelf was the Mets’ #1 pick and Niese was a 7th round pick, therefore, people believe he exceeds his expectations and deserves to be locked up long-term, whereas Pelf’s similar numbers are below expectations and he, therefore, sucks. Don’t get me wrong, I think they both currently suck, but Niese has more potential…I’m just saying, shouldn’t the guy live up to that potential before being handed a 5 year deal?
The way arbitration works is he’ll wind up getting it anyway unless he gets hurt or losses his spot in the rotation. Pelfrey’s getting 5.75 M this year and would be some where around 7.5 M next year if he was tendered an offer even after pitching the way he did last year so your paying 13 M anyway for the last two years and probably 3 M the year before that and that’s if Niese pitches like Pelfrey.
That’s 16 M of the estimated 28 M right there and you get the option of keeping him at 11 M for an additional 2 years and at his age insurance probably wouldn’t be cost prohibitive.
He also strikes out many more than Pelf and walks very few, gets a lot of GB’s and we have no LH starting pitcher to team with Harvey, Familia, Mejia and Wheeler unless/until Gorski and he’s no guarantee and will need two more years, about the time Santana is gone.
It’s a good deal for Niese in that he’s getting a lot of money, all guaranteed and if things go the best way possible he could be writing himself a huge deal at 31 or 32 and eliminates the chance of getting hurt and getting nothing except minor league contracts with SY invites.
Ask Dickey who persevered and reinvented himself for years before getting even a 2 year deal.
Niese is showing gradual but steady progression while Pelfrey is showing regression. It’s a risky deal but one well worth taking. Niese does need to get into better physical condition so that he doesn’t hit a wall in the 2nd haalf like he has the last 2 years. This deal also lets the other young guys know this is not the Oakland A’s that trades off good young players as soon as they get to arbitration. Now I’d like them to give Ike a similar deal.
Good idea. Expect to see more of these at the right time (Ike, Duda, maybe Tejada of the current guys on the team).
To Clayton Collier –
I can see the Mets eventually locking Duda up after a full season or two should he shine as expected, but locking up Ike as well poses a big picture dilemma. The Mets would have two slow-footed players in the lineup long term and that one – Duda – should inherently be playing first base – Ike’s position – so that the outfield contains 3 fleet-footed players not two.
If only two outfield spots are open long term, we can forsee one goes to Nimmo, leaving only one open for long time. That’s not much availability at all when we’re already carrying the likes of Newenhuiss, Den Dekker, Vaughn, Lagares, etc. Excess is nice problem to have from team standpoint, but can be demoralizing to those hoping to crack the starting lineup and see no possibility of that.
As far as Tejada, I wouldn’t lock him up. I’d eventually trade him and give the position to the speedster Valdespin who has far more talent. If the Mets carry both Duda and Ike long term, they absolutely need to infuse speed and athleticism in as many other positions as possible.
The above post is meant for Any, not Clayton. sorry.
You really can’t plan around Nimmo at this point, he’s at least 4 years away if ever and while it’s true that Ike and Duda are both slow I’m pretty sure Duda will slide over to LF in two years (if not sooner) unless he takes to RF that’s not too big a deal.
Between Kirk, Lagares, den Dekker, Puello, Vaughn and Cecciliani we have a few good defensive OFer’s who have a chance to pair up with Duda in what could be a pretty good defensive OF even with the big man in it. Ike’s not fast but he’s a good defender, now just hope he hits LHP and if he does he could be next.
Buying out arbitration years and sticking a couple of team options on the end doesn’t preclude you from trading a guy if you get a good offer, in fact the cost certainity can often make that guy even more attractive and with the options you get a year or two more in which to make a deal if you want.
That doesn’t mean you go crazy but it’s a much better gamble to risk 25 M on a player in his prime than 25 M on a guy already past his prime, let alone 60, 70 or 80 M and if you start forming a core of young guys you’ll wind up with something for a veteran FA to fit into if we pick one up.
Hope this isn’t the last guy we lock up through his 31-32 year old season especially if it’s with a couple of club option years.
Great deal for Niese (guaranteed 28.5 M after living on 400 K) Potentially a great deal for the Mets AAV 5.5 M for a LH starting pitcher and the option of 2/23 M afterwards.
Gotta plan ahead.
Does it really matter that they have 2 “slow footed” players that hit the ball a ton? I’ll take 8 slow foot players if they are all mashing the ball.
“As far as Tejada, I wouldn’t lock him up. I’d eventually trade him and give the position to the speedster Valdespin who has far more talent. If the Mets carry both Duda and Ike long term, they absolutely need to infuse speed and athleticism in as many other positions as possible.”
You’re wise beyond your many years. I like Valdespin’s potential. He has to eventually put it to good use on the field, but if he does, the sky’s the limit. I’ve never thought Tejada as a long term answer. People say he’s smart, he’s crafty, blah, blah, blah. This kid has a lot of limitations. He’ll eventually be shipped.
“It’s a good deal for Niese in that he’s getting a lot of money…” I agree 100%…great deal for Niese, not the Mets at this point.
Well you do have to make a call on guys and whether they are a substantial part of the way forward or not. At Niece’s age they’ll insure the deal from injury and they feel pretty certain that he’ll out perform it and the two club option years are kicking some extra cash into Niese’s pocket now but don’t have to be excercized.
All told the cost of “reserving the right” to have him an extra two years is well worth the extra money.
Now that we were just about to start going over slot in the later rounds we can’t so the best thing to do is lock up your younger guys or your going to have lots of holes. Holes that can’t be filled even on the FA market cause everyone’s locking up their younger guys.
Good move if it happens. Also tables the whole Mets are broke meme.
Could the committment to Jon Niese which I agree with be the start of the uncommittment to Mike Pelfrey. I can only hope.Or is it totally unrelated?
This is a good move.
But what the Mets should really do is to do away with the pitch count and let Neise and other starters stay in the game if pitching well – it’s the only way to resolve our bullpen problem.
Although I agree with letting pitchers stay in there if their doing well despite the pitch-count, that’s not how you fix bullpen issues. You fix bullpen issues by getting rid of the garbage and replacing it with solid pitchers which is the only thing the Mets did this off-season.
Like this move. Hoping I gets done in the next couple of days.
I don’t like it. I love it.
I like this move too…for the Mets but if I were Niese I would not have done it. Does Niese think the best he can make 3 years from now is 5+ million? And knowing these guys always look to do things on the cheap? I don’t know the whole story but if i were Niese i would never do this.
Also i don’t think Niese’s prime years will be soley in his 20s. He could be a Jamie Moyer type pitcher. Not saying he’ll pitch to 49 but he can have plenty of good years in his 30s and help teams win games going into his late 30s
I wouldn’t pass up the chance to make 28.5 million. God forbid a Joba Chamberlain type of injury happens and you can’t play anymore. At least you have a lifetime of security even if you don’t throw another pitch. I think it’s smart for both Niese and the team. Now lock up Ike for 5 years.
It is all about risk mitigation. And remember, if he doesn’t sign this, for about the next 4 (at least 3) years he will be on a year to year deal, so if he does (god forbid) ahve a career ending injury, he would be SOL.
Plus, the arbitration game is somewhat rigged. While it is possible he could have gotten more in some of those year, also possible he gets less. This guarantees him a boatload of cash (set for life stuff) no matter what happens, and if he does become a star, he will be lined up to hit FA at a relatively young age (31?, or about where Lee was when he signed as a FA) and get a real mother load.
This is the 3rd move by Sandy that I actually really like…I think Neise will have a Andy Pettitte type career.
Me too. He reminded me of him from the moment he came up there’s such physical and mound mannerism similarity from the cap down.
If the reports are true, good move for both sides though a 5-year guaranteed deal would force Sandy into his discomfort zone of long-term contract and assumed risk. But in the absence of 5 years, they can’t buy out any of his free agency unless they offer team options which is also rumored to be part of deal in addition to the 5 years.
But…..but…..I thought Oakland TRADES all their young pitching!
You’re such a troll… Don’t they??? haren, gio, carhill etc…. Sigh….
I think his point is that IF this deal goes through then you can’t use what Oakland does to predict what the Mets under Sandy will do.
Well, Oakland sucks, it’s not like we’re that much different…
Except for that whole the Mets don’t actually suck thing
So do the Astros, Cubs, M’s, Whitesox, and various other clubs. The point is that just because you suck does not mean you are following Oakland’s model of un-success.
The Cubs are total Moneyball/Billy Beane disciples, with their $130+ million payroll the last 3 years
Alex68 — I hear that you said I hate all Mets farm prospects. Not so. I’ve liked many. But I’m going to get on the bandwagon for every prospect.
Easy Chester…first of all Oakland inexplicably did trade young pitching and many people were perplexed as to why so don’t jump the gun…..If Mets completely FLOP in next couple years a young pitcher at Niese’s price could be in high demand and can net you some prospects. That’s the way those guys are – I don’t put anything past them
So pipe down
Wasn’t inexplicable at all. Was very obvious. Maybe not to you, but that’s no surprise.
” The Mets would have two slow-footed players in the lineup long term ”
When you hit the ball 500 feet 25+ times a year, you don’t have to run that fast. The Red Sox did OK with Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz “clogging up the base paths”
Umm, that was in response to Long Time Fan. No idea how it ended up down here.
We only need 400 feet, not more. The excess titillates keyboard jockeys, not baseball managers.
The jury is still out on Lucas’ defensive worth. If he shows some savvy and takes good routes, he’ll help a lot. If he doesn’t, his value goes down.
Good! Can we sign David Wright now?
Why would we ever lock Tejada up when we have Reyes? Oh crap……..nevermind.
So….is this the beginning of the Mets spending again?
Good day for the two ex-Mets. Both got two hits and Jose broke up the no-hitter. Beltran looked fine running and covering right field. But hey, right now we are a half-game up on the Marlins who are last in the division!
Also impossible to tell about the “new” franchise being no different than the “old” franchise as far as the Miami area was concerned. Seemed too many there were partying and drinking. Forgetting about the low crowd audio on ESPN, when the team was introduced didn’t see many on their feet – just nice but not sustained applause for other than the starting pitcher. When Jose took his first turn at bat, saw people clapping while sitting. It seemed like a passive crowd – and that was before the Cardinals scored. Same old, same old? Again, too early to see but it didn’t appear that Marlin fever has suddenly gripped the town as much as ESPN was hyping it.
Jose might find it dull after a while. Just like it might be at Citi Field too.