New York Mets Should Offer Lucas Duda A Multi-Year Contract
By Bryan Zarpentine
@BZarp
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Less than a month before the start of Spring Training, the New York Mets have yet to settle on a contract for 2015 with first baseman Lucas Duda. One possible solution to this would be for the Mets to offer Duda a multi-year contract to cover at least the next three seasons. This would not only prevent the Mets and Duda from going through an arbitration hearing this season, but in future years until Duda reaches free agency.
After a breakout season in 2014 during which he hit 30 home runs, there’s no question that Duda will be the Mets’ first baseman for the short-term future. At age 28, Duda finally showed off the kind of power the Mets always believed he was capable of providing. This should be seen more as a sign of things to come rather than a one-year aberration as Duda should be moving into the prime of his career, which could turn him into one of the Mets’ top offensive leaders.
Once Duda was moved to first base full-time, he had the confidence to become a productive offensive player, and it would behoove the Mets to further boost his confidence with a multi-year contract offer.
A three-year contract offer to Duda would take care of his arbitration years, solidify his spot as the Mets’ first baseman, and give him the assurance and confidence to repeat or exceed his production from the 2014 season. If he struggles, the Mets do have Michael Cuddyer for the next two seasons as a possible platoon partner or replacement for Duda, giving the Mets some protection if Duda can’t live up to the contract.
It’s not as if the Mets have any other options at first base on their radar, as there are no prospects at first base who will be major league-ready within the next year. There are also few appealing first basemen hitting the free agent market over the next couple of years. The lone exception could be Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles, although after his production in recent years, his value on the open market will be well beyond what the Mets can afford based on their recent spending habits.
Locking up Duda for the next three years will give the Mets a chance to learn more about the their young first base prospects, most notably Dominic Smith, who has big-time potential but is still years away from the big leagues. By the end of the 2016 season, the Mets will have a lot more information on Smith, as well as prospects Jhoan Urena and Eudor Garcia, giving them a clear idea of whether any of them have the potential to be major league first baseman.
Until better options emerge, giving Duda a three-year contract for a fair amount of money will be what’s best for both team and player.
Bryan Zarpentine is a New York Mets writer at www.RantSports.com. Like him on Facebook, follow him on twitter @BZarp and add him on Google.
Related links:
Lucas Duda Could Take Over As New York Mets’ Offensive Leader in 2015
New York Mets Prospect Dominic Smith Has Big Potential
New York Mets’ Top 10 Prospects Heading into 2015
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