Evaluating The Current Mets With Contract-Option Decisions Looming

The World Series concluded Saturday night. With that, the New York Mets will quickly – within five days – have several decisions to make. Specifically, pertaining to the seven players that have either player, team, or mutual options. Below are those players and what the situations are:

Jacob deGrom

The Mets will not have to make a decision in terms of options with their ace, rather the decision is all his. When deGrom signed a five-year extension worth $137.5 million back in March of 2019, there was an opt out built in for after the 2022 season.

It has been well documented that deGrom has said a couple times that he will opt out of the contract. And who can blame him? At $27.5 million per season, despite the injury issues recently, he is underpaid in comparison to the other’s league best. Of course, if he opts out that does not explicitly end his time in a Mets’ uniform as he and New York can come to terms to an extension.

Interestingly enough, check out what deGrom said according to his teammate, Mark Canha.

Prediction: DeGrom opts out.

Carlos Carrasco

The 35-year-old has a team option worth $14 million for 2023. If the Mets decline this option, they will have to pay a $3-million buyout. Basically, if New York pick up Carrasco’s option, they are incurring an expense of $11 million.

Read more about what the Mets should do with Carrasco here.

Prediction: Exercised

Daniel Vogebach

The power-hitting lefty, who came over in a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates, has an interesting situation. He is arbitration eligible, but also, the Mets have a team option on him worth $1.5 million with a buyout of $200,000. Per MLB Trade Rumors, the projected arbitration value for Vogelbach is $2.9 million.

With that in mind, it is pretty obvious, excluding trade, the the Mets would save money by picking up Vogelbach’s option. It would be a no-brainer.

Prediction: Exercised.

John Curtiss

The Mets signed the former Miami Marlin to a contract in April knowing he would miss the 2022 season as he was still recovering from Tommy John surgery. The contract was worth $770,000 in 2022. The club option is worth $770,000 for 2023.

The 29-year-old has a career 3.63 ERA at the major-league level. With how desolate the Mets’ bullpen is, and if the rehab is still going well, this contract was likely signed in 2021 with the expectation this option was going to be picked up.

Prediction: Exercised.

Chris Bassitt

The Mets and first-year Mets’ pitcher have a mutual option for 2023. The option is worth $19 million with a buyout of only $150,000. This was apart of the duo’s agreement to avoid arbitration back in May.

A recent article detailed a projections for a potential Bassitt extension that is three years for $66 million. This is an annual average value of $22 million. Surely, the Mets would take Bassitt back at that $19-million price. Though, Bassitt, thanks in large part to a strong season, will likely cash in via extension or on the open market.

Prediction: Bassitt declines.

Mychal Givens

The Mets acquired the former Orioles’ reliever at the trade deadline. He had an overall lackluster tenure with New York, though, that was largely inflated by a couple brutal outings. Outside those, he was effective.

The mutual option is worth $3.5 million. Given the overall appearance of Given’s season, he may not get that on the open market. And, given how desolate the Mets’ bullpen currently is, it would not be too surprising to see the Mets express interest.

Prediction: Each side accepts.

Taijuan Walker

The Mets signed the former Seattle Mariner to a two-year contract worth a total of $20 million before the 2021 season. Apart of that contract was a player option worth only $6 million. If he were to accept, and the Mets did not want him to, they could buy him out for $3 million.

Walker has had an interesting tenure with the Mets. Having strong first halves in each season but falling off in the second half. An open-market projection for a new Walker contract sits at five years and $70 million. This is an average well above the $6-million option.

Prediction: Walker declines.