Breakthrough starter R.A. Dickey avoided arbitration on Monday, finalizing a two-year contract extension with the New York Mets. In so doing, the Mets have bought out at least one year of what would've been Dickey's free agency.
Dickey receives a $1 million signing bonus, s $2.25 million salary for 2011, and a $4.25 million salary for 2012. Additionally, there's a $5 million club option for 2013 that comes with a $300,000 buyout. So Dickey stands to earn a minimum of $7.8 million over two years, and $12.5 million over three.
The 36-year-old Dickey broke out in a big way last season for the Mets. After signing a minor league contract and getting cut in spring, Dickey came up on May 19th and subsequently threw 174.1 innings, posting a 2.84 ERA. Known for his knuckleball, Dickey kept National League hitters off balance all summer long, and now stands as a dependable member of the Mets' rotation. Even allowing for some regression going forward, he should remain effective for at least another couple seasons, making Dickey a late bloomer and an incredible story.
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