New York Mets Extend Wright: What it means looking forward

The Mets earlier this week agreed to the terms of a contract extension with star third-baseman and franchise face David Wright. The total amount of the extension sits at eight years $138 million, which adds seven years $122 million to his current contract.  The contract made Wright the richest Met in their history and will have him signed through 2020. This is obviously a huge load off Mets fans minds as many wondered if he would suffer the same fate as Jose Reyes last off-season. They deal fits in the mold of other star third baseman Evan Longoria, who will get little more money per year but signed for three years less.

[Photo taken from NY Post]

Wright will be paid the same $16 million dollars this year so this does not hurt them payroll wise; which is good since the Mets are on a tight budget as it is. As it sits, the Mets don’t have many players signed past the 2013 season, which means a lot of money coming off the books to make moves. This extension shows to future free agents they are guaranteed to have one super star in the line-up for years to come making the Mets a little more enticing to some on the edge free agents.

The Mets still have some decisions to make in the near future, which include Cy Young award winner R.A. Dicky’s future, but a few rays of hope can be found with this signing. Star players still want to play here and maybe, just maybe, the Mets are willing to spend money.

Mets and Jason Bay Cut Ties

Earlier in the week the Mets and Jason Bay agreed to a buy out for the remainder of his contract. Bay’s contract was still guaranteed for $21 million and he will get every penny of it and then some. Bay agreed to have some of the $21 million owed to him deferred, which means a portion of this will be paid back with interest some time in the future. Though many people are happy and relieved that Bay is finally out of the Mets hair for good, letting him go was the wrong the choice.

Though the Mets rid themselves of Bay himself, his contract still stands. In essence, the Mets are currently paying Bay his full salary to pay for another team. Though the terms of his buy-out have yet to be released, it is being presumed a large amount of his 2013 salary will still count towards this year's salary. If you are paying a guy over $15 million dollars no matter how bad he is playing you shouldn’t just let him go with full salary and play wherever he wants.

Secondly, there was no way Bay was reaching his incentives for his 2014 option to automatically kick in. Bay did not record one season of 600+ plate appearance let alone at-bats in any of his three years with the Mets. Bay, who most likely would be platooning even if had been on the team, would fall way short of 600 at -ats.

Finally, believe it or not, Bay has value. Before injuries started to kill Bay’s season, his March and April of 2012 was surprisingly decent. He slugged over .450 and hit three homeruns. If he is producing, the Mets are going to have a greater chance of winning. Lets say he is not producing, he still has value as his contract is expiring. They could trade him to a team who has another bad contract, but one that is long term. There are plenty of general managers out there willing to unload their long term bad contract for short term one.