The Mets have re-signed starting pitcher Jeremy Hefner, MLB.com's Anthony DiComo tweets. They non-tendered Hefner last week. Hefner will spend this year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent late in the season.
Hefner, 27, pitched well for the Mets in his second big league season, racking up 130 2/3 innings in 24 outings (23 starts) for the club. Before being shut down in August and undergoing surgery, the right-hander posted a 4.34 ERA to go along with 6.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.
Even though Hefner is unlikely to return to the mound until the second half of the 2014 season, New York's decision to non-tender him came as a bit of a surprise, since he's not yet eligible for arbitration. However, as Adam Rubin of ESPN New York tweets, Hefner's new deal with the Mets will be a minor league pact, which will result in significant cost savings for the team as he rehabs.
Hefner is represented by BBI Sports Group.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
I would usually agree with you about the Wilpons, but it’s not true in this case. The 40 man roster space is very valuable, and it’s hard to hold it for a fringe starter like Hefner. They also save a year of major league service time. It means ultimately when Hefner comes back in 2015, and if he comes back healthy, the Mets can control his rights for a year longer. Do you see Hefner signing a major league deal with anyone? That means no one wanted to put Hefner on the 40 man roster, and so what the Mets decided to do was the right move.
To get 1 extra year of control.
I agree, Hefner is not just a good guy, but he has an amazing character too. I believed as soon as the Mets cut him he & his agent probably checked if any team would offer him a major league deal, and with none available, he came back on a minor league contract.
Hefner is the worst pitcher I’ve seen come up through our farm system. The run he went on last season was a complete fluke, very few strike outs and got repeatedly lucky on balls in play.
I’m fine with this signing cause he’s hurt and keeping him around on a minor league deal will cost next to nothing. But the dude doesn’t even deserve a spot in the bullpen… well maybe in ours.
An ERA of 4.34 is “pitching well”?