Even though Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia was suspended twice for performance enhancing drugs last season – including a current 162 game suspension that’ll continue into the 2016 season – the New York Mets have not completely ruled out bringing him back next season.
The Mets are currently scouting and monitoring Mejia while he’s pitching in the Dominican Winter League and are gathering information about him, according to Joel Sherman of the NY Post.
Mejia, whose suspension will run through July 26, has a 5.40 ERA in four starts for Licey while allowing 26 hits in 16 2/3 innings with just nine strikeouts.
The Mets may still decide not to bring Mejia back for various reasons, but they must tender him a contract by December 2 if they still want to keep him otherwise he becomes a free agent.
Mejia is eligible for arbitration and the Mets could offer him a 20 percent pay cut amounting to $2.07 million dollars. Also, whatever he is paid would be offset by the unpaid suspension so the actual cost to the Mets would be around $1.1 million.
Additionally, since Mejia is still on the suspended list, the Mets could tender him a contract without using a 40-man roster spot.
