Mets Avoid Arbitration With Bobby Parnell, Agree To $3.7M Deal
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Mets have agreed to a one-year deal with reliever Bobby Parnell, avoiding arbitration.
He will earn $3.7 million in 2014.
The hard-throwing reliever didn't pitch after July 30 and had surgery on September 10 to repair a herniated disk in his neck. He has been working out in Florida.
"In my head I feel like I'm still the closer. I'm going to go along with that until told otherwise," Parnell said during a conference call on Thursday. "I feel healthy. I feel like there's plenty of time to get into baseball shape, and so I came down early to make sure that I didn't have to jump into anything too hard."
Parnell was 5-5 with a career-best 2.16 ERA last year and 22 saves in 26 chances. LaTroy Hawkins, who took over the closer's role when Parnell went on the disabled list, became a free agent and signed a $2.5 million, one-year contract with Colorado.
Parnell said he lost about 10-13 pounds after the surgery but is now back at 207 or 208.
"At this time, I don't feel like there is any question that I will be ready," he said.
"I feel good. I've been throwing. I've not been sore after throwing. The only thing that I'm going to take my time with is lifting weights and getting my strength back up. Right now I feel like my arm is strong. I feel like my body's put together," he said.
The Mets have avoided arbitration with three other players in addition to Parnell. Ruben Tejada agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million deal on Wednesday, Ike Davis agreed to a one-year. $3.5 million deal on Thursday and Eric Young, Jr. agreed to a one-year, $1.85 million deal.
The agreements on Friday left Lucas Duda, Dillon Gee and Daniel Murphy as the last Mets players in arbitration.
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