Jonathon Niese pleased with contract talks

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Jonathon Niese had difficulty suppressing a grin Monday as he acknowledged contract talks with the Mets on an extension. With Niese due arbitration next winter and many predicting a breakout season for the 25-year-old lefthander, he said this was the right time for the two sides to come together. "We threw around the idea to them, they thought it'd be a good idea," he said, "and just went from there."

A person familiar with the situation said a deal that could be worth as much as $30 million over five years was not yet complete but that a contract could be announced as soon as this week. The Mets declined to comment.

The Mets would look to add team options that could buy out Niese's first years of free agency, a long-term investment that could signal more free-spending days ahead. "It's a nice sign that they're willing to talk to Niese about a deal because it shows that the Bernie Madoff stuff is somewhat in the rearview mirror," R.A. Dickey said. "It's a nice gesture, not only to the fans but to the team, because they're going to be able to do what they think they need to do to make us a winner -- perennially, not just for one year."

As for Dickey, he's entering the last season of his two-year, $7.8-million contract and the Mets hold a $5-million option for 2013. There has been some internal discussion on how best to retain Dickey beyond that, and he'd like to see it happen. "I hope so," Dickey said. "I certainly like it here. I think I give any staff a different look and so I'm hoping they see the value in that too."

Dickey said he dodged a bullet by needing only two stitches for the back of his heel after Sunday's spiking. He said the metal spikes narrowly missed clipping his Achilles tendon, which would have been catastrophic.

Ruben Tejada hit a three-run homer and Justin Turner and Mike Baxter each had two hits as the Mets beat the Braves Monday, 8-2.