Picture courtesy of newsday.com
New York Mets RHP RA Dickey has pitched not only like an ace, but as one of the top pitchers in all of baseball. He is coming off one of his most dominant performances, giving up one disputed hit in Wednesday's 9-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. He currently sits at 10-1 with a 2.20 ERA. He has 90 strikeouts in 90 IP and poses a WHIP of 0.944.
Hs is making $4.25 million this season as the second year of a 2 year, nearly $7 million deal he signed with the Mets after the 2010 season. There is a $5 million team option for 2013. Dickey has earned a contract extension. The question is, how many years should he be extended and how much should he make annually?
If he stays on this pace, he will have over 20 wins and around 200 strikeouts, yet some may not think he should get an extension. He will; its just a matter of when. Perhaps 5 years is too many at this stage given his age, but he has earned at least a three year deal with a substantial raise from what he is due to make in 2013. I propose a 3 year, $24 million extension with an option for 2016. This would void the 2013 team option and pay him am even $8 million a year. The 2016 option would also be for $8 million and include a $1 million buyout, making the total guaranteed $25 million. They would only be adding $3 million to the 2013 payroll and adding 2 years after that.
Some Mets fans hate seeing Mets players get paid. Its time to get over it. This dream that some have that the Mets payroll will drop to $50 million (even $80 million) at any point is rediculous. It will not happen. Whether its David Wright or a free agent signing or a current player signing an extension, the New York Mets payroll will at least hang around the $90-$100 million area. And there is a chance it may go above that, depending on what moves are made.
As far as Dickey goes, he has shown that he has discovered himself as a knuckeball pitcher. What he has done, to this point, has been revolutionary. I close with this: The New York Mets will sign a pitcher to a contract similar to what I propose they extend Dickey for. Would you rather see that money go to Dickey, one who has established himself as a starting pitcher for the Mets? Or would you rather see that money go to Shawn Marcum or a Kyle Lohse or a Jorge De La Rosa? The answer to me is easy.
If he stays on this pace, he will have over 20 wins and around 200 strikeouts, yet some may not think he should get an extension. He will; its just a matter of when. Perhaps 5 years is too many at this stage given his age, but he has earned at least a three year deal with a substantial raise from what he is due to make in 2013. I propose a 3 year, $24 million extension with an option for 2016. This would void the 2013 team option and pay him am even $8 million a year. The 2016 option would also be for $8 million and include a $1 million buyout, making the total guaranteed $25 million. They would only be adding $3 million to the 2013 payroll and adding 2 years after that.
Some Mets fans hate seeing Mets players get paid. Its time to get over it. This dream that some have that the Mets payroll will drop to $50 million (even $80 million) at any point is rediculous. It will not happen. Whether its David Wright or a free agent signing or a current player signing an extension, the New York Mets payroll will at least hang around the $90-$100 million area. And there is a chance it may go above that, depending on what moves are made.
As far as Dickey goes, he has shown that he has discovered himself as a knuckeball pitcher. What he has done, to this point, has been revolutionary. I close with this: The New York Mets will sign a pitcher to a contract similar to what I propose they extend Dickey for. Would you rather see that money go to Dickey, one who has established himself as a starting pitcher for the Mets? Or would you rather see that money go to Shawn Marcum or a Kyle Lohse or a Jorge De La Rosa? The answer to me is easy.
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