Francisco Alvarez is close to signing an extension. Or not.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Conflicting reports. Sounds like trial balloons being set aloft. If they can follow the Braves' plan and do this, I'm OK with that.

https://www.nj.com/mets/2024/02/mets-ne ... -says.html

According to MLB reporter Héctor Gómez, catcher Francisco Álvarez is “close to signing an extension with the Mets.”

SNY’s Andy Martino reported that an extension “would definitely make sense,” but there’s nothing close right now.

Álvarez is not due for arbitration until 2026, and even without knowing the specifics of the deal, the Mets will likely buy out all of his arbitration years and some of the 22-year-old’s free agency years at a cheaper rate than he could eventually earn as a free agent in the open market. He is earning $720,000 this season.

[metirish]

Hector Gomez throws stuff out there and I suppose at some point he might be correct

[smg58]

Alvarez has power that can play in Citifield. Baty and Vientos can't say that, at least not yet. So I'm for making a committment.

[Edgy MD]

A TCD win for FORCE OF JULY could have really cemented his negotiating position.

[nymr83]

Has there ever been a long term deal for a pre arb player that didn't turn ok for the club? These seem pretty low risk

edit: Immediately after posting this I remembered Wandor Franco. So I'll revise the question: Has there been a long term pre-arb deal that didn't work out ok for the club just lookingat on-field performance?

[Edgy MD]

Rey Ordóñez might be seen as one.

Miles Straw, another defense-first guy, is probably another, better example.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Mike Kingery is one.

I'm ok with an Alvarez deal or not.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The Mets did something like this with Jon Niese, if I remember correctly.

[Benjamin Grimm]

If the Mets were going to agree to any extension with catcher Francisco Alvarez soon, it would probably make the most sense after the season starts.

That’s because of the ramifications any such agreement ahead of the season would have on payroll. Since they are over the final luxury tax threshold, the Mets face stiff penalties, essentially paying a 110 percent hit on a player’s annual average value. So extending a player like Alvarez now would mean a higher salary number for the competitive balance tax and one that they’d be paying a 110 percent penalty on.

[metsmarathon]

this is also why i'm not yet worried about an alonso extension not yet happening. it doens't make sense to sign him now, when it costs more than it will after the season starts.

[duan]

Has there ever been a long term deal for a pre arb player that didn't turn ok for the club? These seem pretty low risk

edit: Immediately after posting this I remembered Wandor Franco. So I'll revise the question: Has there been a long term pre-arb deal that didn't work out ok for the club just lookingat on-field performance?

There was an Astro that signed extension either before he came up or just after, that’s gone absolutely nowhere. Name is escaping me!!

[duan]

Jon Singleton.
Was only for $10 million; but he struggled with depression and marajuana abuse issues …

[nymr83]

I forgot Singleton, I think he finally made the majors years later or something like that?