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Pete Alonso and 3 other Mets who can earn themselves a big pay increase with a strong 2023 season

By Tim Boyle |
Mar 30, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) takes on the field
Mar 30, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) takes on the field / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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Pete Alonso is the guy all New York Mets fans fully expect to get a big pay raise. The slugging first baseman is arbitration eligible through the 2024 season. A contract extension to ensure he stays in Flushing is something the front office needs to consider before it gets a little too near.

Alonso isn’t the only member on the Mets roster who could have a pay raise coming his way. These three other players have an opportunity to enter a new tax bracket or at least upgrade from a membership at the public pool to installing an underground one in their backyard.

How each of these three Mets performs in 2023 will determine whether or not they’ll be looking for parking before a swim or stepping out back for a dip whenever they please. Well, it is baseball money. All of them can already afford the backyard swimming pool. Maybe a raise is the difference between lining it with stone or pure gold.

1) NY Mets pitcher David Peterson reaches arbitration for the first time next year

David Peterson has a big opportunity to win a starting job for the Mets next season based on how he performs in 2023. Money will come into play as well. Peterson becomes arbitration eligible for the first time in 2024.

When players reach arbitration it typically means they’re about to start earning a million dollars per season at the very minimum. Not everyone gets quite there but starting pitchers almost always do.

The first year of arbitration for a player like Peterson won’t be a significant bump from the pre-arbitration salary. The league minimum is $700K which is still a ridiculous amount more than most human beings make.

It’s not unreasonable for Peterson to see his salary next year more than double and reach something close to $2 million. The first trip to arbitration usually doesn’t buy someone’s aunt a house. It should be enough for Peterson to live a little more comfortably and buy some nice gifts for more immediate family members.

2) NY Mets designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach can hit his way toward a bigger deal

Daniel Vogelbach had a $1.5 million option for this year and is arbitration eligible next year. More consistent hitting this season with the Mets could go a long way toward Vogelbach getting rewarded with a bigger contract next season. Arbitration dollars always tick upward. How high it goes will depend on Vogelbach’s performance.

The Mets do have an easy “out” with Vogelbach if he doesn’t perform. Non-tendering or trading him isn’t impossible. They may not be the ones who end up giving him a raise even if he is able to produce on the field this season.

In what will be his final chance to earn money prior to free agency, the end total for Vogelbach could easily double up to $3 million and maybe more. A monster season from him, however, still won’t put him in the same class as a guy like Pete Alonso. I don’t think anyone expects him to outperform the Polar Bear anyway.

Vogelbach could face some tough times in the future when he reaches free agency. Power hitting DHs don't always get paid a ton unless they’re among the very best sluggers in the game. This year with the Mets is Vogey’s opportunity to show he can be one of them.

3) NY Mets reliever Drew Smith is in his last arbitration year next season

Then there’s Drew Smith. Somehow he is already approaching his final year of arbitration eligibility next year. Time goes fast. It seems like Lucas Duda was just traded away for him.

This year’s salary is $1.3 million. It’s actually kind of low considering how well he has pitched for the Mets. Injuries are partly to blame. Getting up to $3 million is not impossible. If Elieser Hernandez can have a $1.6 million salary this year and be as unaccomplished as he is, an average year from Smith could award him more than twice what he is going to make this year.

The absence of Edwin Diaz this year pushes Smith into an even more vital role for the Mets. He could be a serious contender to see regular action in the eighth inning or maybe even occasionally close out a game. It isn’t a drastic change. It may be enough for Smith to add a few more feet to the deep end of his gold-crested swimming pool.

Relief pitchers don’t typically get paid a lot through the arbitration process. Someone in Smith’s situation will probably bounce around on short-term deals for the rest of his career once he does get to free agency. He can still grab a little more of Steve Cohen’s money before that time comes.

Next. 3 Mets Opening Day starters who will be gone next year. dark

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