Headlines

  • Francisco Lindor Out Seven To Nine Weeks Due To Calf Strain
  • Royals Sign Brad Boxberger To One-Year Contract
  • Rangers Sign Hunter Pence To Minor League Deal
  • Phillies Acquire J.T. Realmuto
  • Frank Robinson Passes Away
  • Phillies, Marlins Working Out Details Of Prospective J.T. Realmuto Swap
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Indians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • Top 50 Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2018-19 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2019
    • 2018-19 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2019-20 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Depth Charts
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • Last 100 Comments
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Mets Avoid Arbitration With R.A. Dickey

By Mike Axisa | January 31, 2011 at 2:41pm CDT

The Mets and R.A. Dickey have avoided arbitration and agreed to a two-year deal with a third year club option, the team announced. Andy Martino of The New York Daily News, who first reported the agreement, says Dickey will make $7.5MM total for the two guaranteed years of the deal, excluding the option year and incentives (Twitter link). The contract is official, now that Dickey has passed his physical, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork, who says the deal is believed to guarantee $7.8MM (Twitter link).

When doctors performed Dickey's physical, one thing they're didn't find was a UCL in his right elbow. The 36-year-old knuckleballer is famously missing the all-important ligament, something Texas Rangers' doctors first discovered when they drafted him in 1996. 

Dickey has bounced from team to team for most of his career, but he broke out with the Mets last season. After being recalled from Triple-A in mid-May, he pitched to a 2.84 ERA with 5.4 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and a 55.1% ground ball rate in 174 1/3 innings. Given the nature of the knuckleball, that walk rate is mighty impressive. 

“R.A. had a breakthrough season for our organization last year, meriting this new contract,” Mets GM Sandy Alderson said. “We expect R.A. to be a major part of our success going forward.”

As our Arbitration Tracker shows, Dickey filed for $4.7MM in arbitration while the team countered with $3.35MM, prompting Ben Nicholson-Smith is name his arbitration case one of ten to watch. Dickey would have been eligible for free agency after the 2011 season.

Share 4 Retweet 33 Send via email0

New York Mets R.A. Dickey Transactions

New York Notes: Pettitte, Mets, Collins, Crawford
Main
Reds Avoid Arbitration With Volquez
27 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. jp

    8 years ago

    I like this. Dickey appears to be a late bloomer, rather than a flash in the pan. If he’s getting less than $5 mill per season, it could be a big win for the Mets.

    0
    0
    Reply
    • Slopeboy

      8 years ago

      I’m not convinced that he’s for real, but am glad to see see him get a deal he’s happy with. He was one of just a few bright spots for the Mets last year and one hell of a nice guy with the fans. Hopefully he’ll show that he’s the real deal this season.

      0
      0
      Reply
      • jp

        8 years ago

        Looking at some of his stats on Fangraphs they are definitely encouraging. 3.65 FIP, pretty good K/BB ratio, especially for a knuckleballer, 0.67 HR/9, 55.1 groundball percentage, etc.

        Most of all, just watching him pitch last year, you could see his intelligence on the mound. Throwing knuckleballs almost like a fast, medium, slow when needed.

        I’ll have my fingers crossed. Go Dickey!

        0
        0
        Reply
  2. tenten

    8 years ago

    very nice deal, Dickey is going to be our horse the next 3 years.

    0
    0
    Reply
  3. MetsFanXXIII

    8 years ago

    He is now the oldest player on the Mets roster. Not bad considering we’re not too far removed from the Julio Franco days.

    0
    0
    Reply
    • lefty177

      8 years ago

      Julio Franco (52) – R.A. Dickey (36) = almost Ruben Tejada or Jenrry Mejia (21)

      0
      0
      Reply
  4. MetsEventually

    8 years ago

    And not overpayed, like Ollie! Excellent!

    0
    0
    Reply
    • MetsFanXXIII

      8 years ago

      Well, we’re still waiting on the dollar amount. But two years with a club option sounds to me like the best way they could have gone with him.

      0
      0
      Reply
  5. CitizenSnips

    8 years ago

    Great news.

    0
    0
    Reply
  6. Tom

    8 years ago

    WONDERFUL! He deserves this and it’s not like it’s a franchise ruining contract one of the few bright spots last season even he does suck I will still respect him.

    0
    0
    Reply
  7. icedrake523

    8 years ago

    Good for him. He’s bounced around his whole career, must feel great to know you know where you’re going to be next year.

    0
    0
    Reply
  8. Patricio

    8 years ago

    This came from Andy “sqeek box voice” Martino. Who knows if its even true.

    0
    0
    Reply
  9. metsman

    8 years ago

    what about Pagan? he’s pretty much the same deal as RA, a diamond in the rough who wasn’t getting paid enough, and between the two of them they made the Mets watchable last year.

    0
    0
    Reply
    • Sylvan

      8 years ago

      Pagan has another arb year after 2011, I think, so the Mets don’t need to contemplate an extension yet.

      0
      0
      Reply
  10. ritz

    8 years ago

    Dickey’s interviews alone are worth $8M over 2 years.

    0
    0
    Reply
    • Sox1265

      8 years ago

      I know

      0
      0
      Reply
  11. Mr Top Ten

    8 years ago

    The guy’s success is someting out of a Disney movie. I’m happy for a “humble” athelete like him to get some dough. As a Met fan, I have my doubts if he can do it again, but he it will be fun watching him try

    0
    0
    Reply
  12. AcePPO

    8 years ago

    Martino just corrected himself. It’s 7.5 over two years, not 7.5 per. With a club option for year 3.

    0
    0
    Reply
  13. Jeff Weissbuch

    8 years ago

    Way to much for this guy. He is old and well traveled.

    0
    0
    Reply
    • John Stefan

      8 years ago

      Normally for a 36 yr old, I would agree, however knuckleballers can be effective well into their 40’s, as Tim Wakefield has shown. Plus, there hasn’t been an effective knuckleballer in the National League since Charlie Hough.

      0
      0
      Reply
  14. John Stefan

    8 years ago

    Dickey has signed a 2yr 7.5MM contract an option year for 2013 plus incentives. Excellent work by Sandy Alderson!! Good economical signing, which is easily tradeable should Dickey revert to pre-2010 form. Alderson has been making excellent low risk, low $$ signings.

    One thing I like about Dickey is his low walk rate (especially being a knuckleballer) And with two different types of knuckleballs that he throws, Dickey could be poised for another excellent season!

    0
    0
    Reply
    • MetsFanXXIII

      8 years ago

      I wouldn’t say easily tradeable, because if he stinks no one will want him at all. I mean, the same thing was once said about Oliver Perez’s deal.

      0
      0
      Reply
      • John Stefan

        8 years ago

        Agreed! I was assuming he would have another good season based on 2010’s success. I was referring to the $$ per year involved…$3.8MM per year avg is extremely reasonable for a 175 IP starter.

        0
        0
        Reply
  15. 0vercast

    8 years ago

    Good for him. Dickey’s “knuckle heat” is fun to watch and he’s maybe the nicest and most humble MLB player I’ve had a chance to speak with.

    I very much doubt he’ll ever again put up numbers like last year, but the price was right for the Mets.

    0
    0
    Reply
  16. dc21892

    8 years ago

    The Mets front office is making educated moves for once!

    0
    0
    Reply
  17. florwax

    8 years ago

    Keep up the good moves Mets…..Sign Pagan next.

    0
    0
    Reply
  18. florwax

    8 years ago

    Keep up the good moves Sandy……sign Pagan next & forget Rodrigo Lopez please.

    0
    0
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Francisco Lindor Out Seven To Nine Weeks Due To Calf Strain

    Royals Sign Brad Boxberger To One-Year Contract

    Rangers Sign Hunter Pence To Minor League Deal

    Phillies Acquire J.T. Realmuto

    Frank Robinson Passes Away

    Phillies, Marlins Working Out Details Of Prospective J.T. Realmuto Swap

    MLB, Union Discussing Significant Rule Changes

    Giants Reportedly Enter Mix For Bryce Harper

    Nationals To Re-Sign Jeremy Hellickson

    Marlins Sign Curtis Granderson

    Padres Meet With Bryce Harper

    Astros Sign Wade Miley

    Diamondbacks Sign Greg Holland

    J.T. Realmuto Talks In “Advanced Stages”

    Recent

    Francisco Lindor Out Seven To Nine Weeks Due To Calf Strain

    Angels, Daniel Hudson Agree To Minor League Deal

    Twins, Adam Rosales Agree To Minor League Deal

    Indians To Sign Matt Joyce

    Phillies Sign Sean Rodriguez To Minor League Contract

    Ryan Tepera, Kyle Barraclough Lose Arbitration Cases

    Giants, Rene Rivera Agree To Minor League Deal

    Minor MLB Transactions: 2/7/19

    MLBTR Poll: NL East Hierarchy

    Milwaukee Brewers Sign Josh Tomlin To Minor League Deal

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • 2018-19 Top 50 Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2018-19 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2019
    • 2018-19 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2019-20 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Depth Charts
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Twitter/RSS Feeds
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
    • Roster Resource

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Indians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version