Mets to Offer Two-Year Extension to R.A. Dickey

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Mets might be inching closer to extending NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, but still may be very far away at the same time. Does that confuse you? Yea, it confuses me too a little bit. The team is planning to offer the knuckler a two-year extension, but the terms to that deal are still under wraps.

What was more news to me was that New York offered Dickey a two-year deal two weeks ago, and while he didn’t accept it (obviously), both sides have been continuing to negotiate since. The amount per year Dickey is getting offered is unclear, but it’s believed to be within the $10-12 million range. Sounds like Dickey’s representation are using Jake Peavy‘s two-year/$29 million extension as a benchmark in negotiations; however, it’s rumored the Cy Young winner is looking for at least $10 million a year.

Aug. 31, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) looks on during the final out in the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The Mets won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

So, we’ll see how this offer goes and if the two sides get closer to an agreement, or move farther a part. This news is coming on the heels of us hearing Alderson wanting some clarity on both the Dickey and David Wright negotiations before the Winter Meetings, allowing him to go forth with the rest of his plan for the off-season. After winning his award on Wednesday night, Dickey spoke very passionately about his loyalty to the Mets and his desire to finish his career in Flushing. With the potential of agreeing to a two-year pact, that would give Dickey three more guaranteed years with the Amazins, as his $5 million option for 2013 has already been exercised.

I think it’s incredibly important for the Mets to bring back both Dickey and Wright to show the fan base that not only are they committed toward retaining their best players and building a foundation around them, but they have the financial means to hang onto difference makers. When it comes to people’s opinions about both these potential extensions, the wild card is R.A. because there is a solid group of people who think he’s on his way out of town. If (hopefully more like when) these two sides are able to agree on a deal, that will show the fans this organization is committed to building a winner.

There are arguments that they both should be traded and rebuild from scratch with a boatload of prospects because the team isn’t competitive with them on the roster anyways, but it’s hard to be good when there is not much of a team surrounding them to pick it up when they’re struggling. These two are important pieces to the Mets moving forward, and there’s no doubt Alderson is counting on having them both as part of his plan for the future. Wright agreeing to extension seems more of a sure thing, so I think people will start believing again once the man with the fearsome knuckler is locked and loaded beyond 2013.