The Mets current seven-year, $124 million offer to David Wright is believed to be their final offer, and it is back-loaded in a way that is similar to last year's deal between the Marlins and Jose Reyes, Andy Martino of the Daily News reported this morning.
Though it is not know how Wright's deal is structured, Cot's Baseball Contracts says Reyes will earn $10 million the first two years of his current deal, then $16 million in 2014 and $22 million each of the last three seasons.
According to Martino's sources, the Mets are now waiting for a response from Wright.
'I think both parties want this to work,' one rival executive familiar with the situation told Martino. 'They're not going to let this break down over details.'
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com
This makes me feel slightly better. The bottom line is this: If Wright wants to be here, he'll eventually accept this contract. He won't, if he wants to leave. But, I'll say this, how on earth does anyone pass on $140 million. I don't know how you leave that much money on the table. It's crazy, to me. Sure, he wants to play for a winner. I get it. But, everyone says that, and even still, the odds are low that a MLB player will ever get a ring. There is no guarantee, I don't care where you go, not even the Bronx. In exchange for chasing a championship, he could miss the chance to make a boat-load of money here. I mean, what if Wright passes on this seven-year extension, then injures himself in a way next year (or slumps so bad) that he gets offered significantly less one year from now? He'd never live down passing on $140 million. I just don't know how he can't take it, right now, even if he has doubts about the future of this franchise'
By the way, the total seems to be $140 million for the next eight years, when you include Wright's $16 million option this coming season. I wonder if the Mets tried to rip up 2013, include it in the new deal (making it an eight-year deal, not seven), while lowering the payment from $16 million to $10 million, thus opening extra money in this years budget. I assume the MLBPA would persuade Wright to not do this, because if he's already being asked to defer money after the contract ends, it will significantly reduce the present day value of the deal. But, it would certainly help improve the roster surrounding Wright, so I'd hope he would at least be open to it.
