The Mets came to an agreement with all six of their arbitration-eligible players, signing each to a one-year contract and avoiding arbitration, the team announced on Thursday.
The list of players includes LHP David Peterson, RHP Tylor Megill and RHP Paul Blackburn, as well as outfielders Tyrone Taylor and Jose Siri, and catcher Luis Torrens.
Of this list, Peterson was the biggest factor for the Mets’ 2024 run, posting a 2.90 ERA (1.29 WHIP) in 21 regular season starts before coming out of the bullpen for the postseason and finishing with a 2.92 ERA across 12.1 innings. The lefty figures to be heavily involved, once again, next season in the starting rotation and has shown his versatility, which is an asset.
Megill, New York’s starter in its 2024 home opener, had a another decent season with a 4.04 ERA (1.31 WHIP), but injuries kept him to just 16 games (15 starts). When he was on the mound, though, he was often unable to pitch deep into games and was seldom used before injuries to the rest of the staff made him the fifth starter down the stretch of the season which he handled well.
Blackburn, whom the Mets acquired from the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline, had a short stint with New York before injuries ended his season. In five starts for the Mets, the right-hander recorded a 5.18 ERA (1.56 WHIP), however in three of those starts he allowed one earned run and went six innings. New York is hoping a full season in Queens can help the 31-year-old reach his full potential.
After Harrison Bader struggled offensively towards the end of the season, Taylor assumed the starting job in center field. While neither player is known for their offense, Taylor finished his first year as a Met with seven home runs, 35 RBI and a .248/.299/.401 slash line while excelling defensively (as did Bader) and on the base paths (11 steals in 13 attempts). As of now, the 30-year-old is set to begin the 2025 season as the team’s starting center fielder.
Taylor will likely split time in center with Siri, who New York acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade earlier in the offseason. Another defensive wiz, Siri doesn’t add a ton with his bat, although he does have some pop, smacking 18 home runs last season in 402 at-bats. In fact, over the last two years with the Rays, the 29-year old hit 43 home runs. He’s struck out a ton in his career, but some power and speed off the bench is a good thing to have.
When the Mets traded for Torrens in the middle of the season after an injury to Francisco Alvarez, it looked like he might never give up the starting job. His numbers eventually came back down to earth and he looked like the player he’s been for his entire career, hitting .229 but playing solid defense behind the plate. He’ll return as Alvarez’s backup next season and can even act as a mentor for the young catcher.
