Mets Reward Pitcher Jon Niese With Contract Extension
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Even though the New York Mets haven’t had much to hang their hat on in recent years, they are taking the necessary step to build a strong core of players for the future. The team has given starting pitcher Jon Niese with a five-year, $25.5 million contract.
The deal also includes two team options that could raise the value of the contract to $46 million according to ESPN. Niese could potentially earn $10 million in the sixth-year and $10.5 in the seventh-year if his options are picked up by the Mets.
The 25-year old Niese is entering his third full season with Mets and will serve as the team’s third starter this season behind Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey. In 2010, Niese went 11-11 with a 4.40 ERA. Overall, he’s 22-23 with a 4.39 ERA.
Now that most of the Mets financial issues have been settled from the Bernie Madoff scandal, the team has more payroll flexibility to resign some of their players.
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