The Mets came to terms with all six arbitration-eligible players on contracts for the 2025 season on Thursday. Starting pitchers Paul Blackburn, David Peterson and Tylor Megill, catcher Luis Torrens and outfielders Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor all received one-year contracts.
Peterson is expected to play a big role in the rotation, and Blackburn and Megill could as well. The left-hander is coming off a breakout season in 2024. After struggling to stick in the rotation and in the big leagues in 2023, Peterson underwent hip labrum surgery last fall and came back better than ever. In his age-28 season, the University of Oregon product went 10-3 with a 2.90 ERA, the lowest among all Mets starters. He became indispensable in the playoffs, working as a long reliever in various situations, and recording the save in the Mets’ Game 3 Wild Card win in Milwaukee and the win in Game 4 of the NLDS.
Peterson is under team control for two more seasons. Should he turn in another stellar season, the Mets could look to extend him before letting him go in free agency.
Blackburn is likely to start in the rotation as well, though the Mets have not ruled out a long relief role for the right-hander they acquired from the Oakland A’s at the trade deadline last season. This was the final arbitration year for the 31-year-old, setting him up for free agency next winter.
The wild card is Megill, who had a strong September for the second season in a row, but struggled overall last season and again in the postseason. It appears as though the big right-hander is headed to the bullpen, but the Mets would like him to prepare for spring training as though the plan is to have him start.
Torrens, Siri and Taylor are key depth pieces. The Mets haven’t replaced center fielder Harrison Bader this season, instead acquiring Siri, who plays all three outfield positions, from the Tampa Bay Rays. Taylor also plays all over the outfield and was used over Bader in the postseason. The Mets could split time between Taylor and Siri in center, or primarily use Taylor with Siri being used as a defensive replacement later in games.
Torrens came to the Mets in a trade with the Yankees last season and is expected to slot in behind Francisco Alvarez on the depth chart once again.
By getting all six players under contract for the upcoming season, the Mets successfully avoided any arbitration hearings, which can sometimes turn contentious.
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