Mets, Niese Agree to Five-Year Extension

The Mets have agreed with pitcher Jon Niese on a five-year, $25.5 milllion contract extension that would keep him in New York through the 2016 season. The deal also includes an option for 2017 and 2018 which would push the overall value to $46 million.

The deal is great for both sides, but more importantly--a steal for the Mets. Jon Niese has been slightly inconsistent in terms of his pitching success the past few years. He worked through a few injuries and even more rough patches, but anyone will tell you that his talent is still there. This contract keeps the lefty around for the next five years at a cost of only around $5 million per year to the club. In my opinion, this signing is excellent for the team, as it keeps this potential-filled, young lefty around at a relatively low price for a pitcher of his quality.

This coming season will be a very good and important gauge of where Jon will end up in the future, so keep a close eye on both his health and success.