Mets Reach Deals With Syndergaard, Stroman, Conforto, Diaz To Avoid Arbitration

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January means a new year, and it also means arbitration as the Major League Baseball offseason continues along. 

Friday was the deadline for teams to reach agreements with players before they are subject to arbitration, so quite a few salary increases were negotiated across the league, including a bunch for some players based in Queens.

According to multiple reports, the Mets came to an agreement with Noah Syndergaard to avoid arbitration. Syndergaard reportedly gets a raise from $6 million to $9.7 million.

WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman reports that the Mets have also agreed to terms with Edwin Diaz, Steven Matz, Marcus Stroman and Michael Conforto. Heyman claims that Diaz will make $5.1 million, while Matz will make $5 million. Conforto gets $8 million, and Stroman will be paid $12 million. 

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Brendan Nimmo and the team also avoided arbitration by agreeing on a deal worth $2.175 million. Puma is also reporting that Seth Lugo and the Mets have reached agreement on a one-year, $2 million deal.

Multiple reports claim that Jake Marisnick and Robert Gsellman have also come to terms on one-year deals for next year. Marisnick is set to earn $3.3125 million, while Gsellman will bring in $1.225 million for the year.

With all of that business, the Mets signed all of their players who were eligible for arbitration. They have been able to avoid the process all together.

AP Photo/Kathy Willens

2020 will be a crucial year for Syndergaard. It seems like he’s been around for a while, but he’s still just 27-years-old. His name was mentioned in trade rumors at times last season, so he could be even more motivated to assert himself as another ace in a talented Mets’ starting rotation.

Syndergaard is actually still on his rookie contract, which will last until 2021. 

Gsellman and Lugo will fit back in as important arms in a bullpen that struggled heavily last season. The addition of Dellin Betances should also boost the relieving corps that had so many issues under Mickey Callaway.

2019’s arbitration period was a historic one for the Mets. Jacob deGrom received a $10 million raise, which was the most money ever given to an arbitration-eligible player. DeGrom was coming off an NL Cy Young victory and has since won another, so it’s safe to say he deserved it.

Elsewhere, the Red Sox reportedly gave Mookie Betts a one-year deal worth around $27 million to avoid arbitration.