Duda, Mets avoid arbitration with 1-year deal
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The Mets and first baseman Lucas Duda avoided arbitration by agreeing to terms on a one-year contract for 2017, the club announced on Thursday. The deal is worth $7.25 million, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.
Duda was limited to 47 games in 2016, the result of a lower back stress fracture. He produced a .229/.302/.412 slash line, with seven home runs, seven doubles and 23 RBIs.
Duda, who turns 31 on Feb. 3, is projected to be the Opening Day first baseman for the Mets. He can become a free agent after the 2017 season.
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The Mets now have seven players up for arbitration, most notably pitchers Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia. The deadline for players and their clubs to exchange salary figures is Friday.
After salary figures are exchanged Friday, clubs can still reach an agreement on a contract at any point leading up to a player's arbitration hearing, which are scheduled to take place between Jan. 30 and Feb. 17. If a case goes to a hearing, a three-person panel will listen to arguments from both sides, and then choose either the salary figure presented by the club or the player.
The Mets previously avoided arbitration with pitcher Zack Wheeler on Wednesday.