According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Mets tried to sign first baseman Lucas Duda to a three-year extension plus a club option worth “just under” $30 million dollars guaranteed.
The deal would have bought out one of Duda’s free agent years, two with the option.
After the two sides failed to agree on a multi-year contract, talks were shelved until the offseason. Both sides had mutually agreed to cease talks before opening day.
Duda avoided arbitration with the Mets in February by agreeing to a one-year, $4.2 million deal.
The Mets’ failure to get something done may prove costly, especially if he follows up his breakout season with a another solid year at the plate, and so far Duda is doing just that.
Last season Duda batted .253/.349/.481 with 30 home runs and 92 RBI. He’s batting .321 with a .896 OPS in 24 games so far this season.
At the time I speculated that a 3 year $40 million extension would be fair for Duda.
