Mets avoid arbitration with Dillon Gee and Ruben Tejada

The Mets have avoided arbitration with Dillon Gee and Ruben Tejada.

Gee, 28, will make $5.3 million this coming season. He had been projected by MLB Trade Rumors to make $5.1 million.

Last season for the Mets, Gee had a 4.00 ERA (4.52 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP in 137.1 innings pitched (22 starts).

Presently, the Mets have six established starting pitchers for five slots. Along with Gee, the club has Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jacob deGrom, Jon Niese, and Bartolo Colon.

Tejada, 25, will make $1.88 million in 2015. He had been projected by MLB Trade Rumors to make $1.7 million.

Last season for the Mets, Tejada hit .237/.342/.310 in 419 plate appearances spanning 119 games. Tejada is expected to serve as the backup shortstop in 2015.

With Gee and Tejada having come to terms, the Mets still have Daniel Murphy, Lucas Duda, and Jenrry Mejia as arbitration-eligible players they’ve yet to settle with.

Thoughts:

While Tejada is almost certain to be on the roster come Opening Day, the exact opposite is the case for Gee.

It was reported earlier this week that Gee would likely be traded before the end of the month, and nothing has changed in that regard.

The Mets could always slide Gee to the bullpen, but that would be a complete waste of resources.

The much smarter play – and the one the Mets are likely about to execute – is dealing Gee for something of consequence now and rolling with their five established starters while having Rafael Montero, Noah Syndergaard, and Steven Matz as insurance at Triple-A Las Vegas.