Feliciano declines arbitration- a break for Mets
Pedro Feliciano led the National League in appearances in 2010 with 92. (June 18, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
The Mets took a calculated risk when they offered salary arbitration last week to free-agent reliever Pedro Feliciano. Had Feliciano accepted, the commitment would have largely blown the club's budget for 2011.
But the risk paid off Tuesday, when Feliciano's agents, Melvin Roman and David Schwartz, officially filed the paperwork to decline arbitration. Consequently, Feliciano remains a free agent, and he is still free to negotiate with the Mets as well as the 29 other teams. But the Mets will pick up a sandwich-round pick between the first and second rounds in the 2011 amateur draft if he signs with another team.
That's a significant addition for a draft that is being regarded as particularly deep in talent.
Feliciano, 34, led the major leagues in appearances by a pitcher each of the last three seasons, setting a career high with 92 in 2010. His numbers slipped somewhat, as his ERA climbed from 3.03 in 2009 to 3.30 in 2010, yet he still ranked as an above-average reliever, and he surely wore down some from Jerry Manuel's heavy usage.
He could've made a one-year salary in the range of $4.5 million to $5 million had he accepted arbitration. Yet a pitcher with Feliciano's track record probably can get a multiyear contract, albeit at a lower salary per season. The Yankees are among the teams that have expressed interest in Feliciano, who is unlikely to return to the Mets.
Meanwhile, the Mets released medical updates on three of their recently banged-up players, all of whom visited Monday with Mets team physician Struan Coleman at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
Daniel Murphy who has been playing second in the Dominican Winter League, "sustained a mild hamstring strain of the left leg while playing for Aguilas," the Mets stated. "There was no loss of motion or strength in the leg. He will rehabilitate his hamstring and return to baseball activities as tolerated."
Outfielder Fernando Martinez "felt pain in his right knee while running to first base in a game with Escogido in the Dominican Winter League. A MRI showed mild arthritis in the knee, unchanged from his previous MRI. There was no new injury. He will wear a brace and continue to work on strengthening his knee before resuming baseball activities."
First baseman-outfielder Nick Evans "has been recovering this offseason from a posterior labral tear of his left non-throwing shoulder sustained September 29 during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. He has been swinging a bat pain-free. A MRI revealed no change and he will progress with baseball activities as tolerated."
