Mets avoid arbitration with Jenrry Mejia

The Mets have avoided arbitration with Jenrry Mejia, settling on a $2.595 million contract for 2015.

Mejia’s 2015 salary is slightly above the midpoint between his ask and the Mets’ counter.

MLB Trade Rumors had projected that Mejia would receive $3.1 million.

With Mejia under contract, the only arbitration-eligible player the Mets have yet to settle with is Lucas Duda.

Mejia, 25, opened 2014 in the Mets’ rotation but was moved to the bullpen in May – quickly becoming the closer. In 56.1 innings in relief, Mejia posted a 2.72 ERA and 1.42 WHIP while striking out 60. He saved 28 games.

Mejia played through a number of minor injuries in 2014, including a hernia that was repaired shortly after the season.

Thoughts:

While Mets manager Terry Collins has said that it’s not certain Mejia will be the closer in 2015, the even money is on that being the case – at least until Bobby Parnell returns.

Along with Mejia and Parnell, the Mets have two other pitchers – Jeurys Familia and Vic Black – who have the stuff to close, giving them lots of strong options to turn to at the end of games.

If there’s one thing Mejia needs to work on, it’s his walk rate. Mejia walked 3.9 per 9 last season, leading to him having to work out of lots of jams while closing out games.

It can be argued that Mejia also needs to cut down his hits allowed per 9, but the amount of hits off of him can be partially blamed on the number of grounders he induces combined with the Mets’ poor infield defense up the middle and the lack of range of Lucas Duda at first base.

In any event, in Mejia, the Mets have a very good young arm whose repertoire out of the pen should be invaluable to them in 2015 and beyond, whether it’s as the closer or simply a late-inning option.