Mets announce Niese will be No. 3 starter
Jonathan Niese pitching in the first inning. (Aug. 6, 2011) Credit: David Pokress
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets announced Sunday that Jonathon Niese will be their No. 3 starter, and with a contract extension also in the works, he's likely to be in their rotation for many years to come.
A person familiar with the situation confirmed Sunday that the two sides are close to completing an extension that is likely to be done this week, perhaps before the Mets open the season Thursday. The deal could be worth up to $30 million over five years, based on the extension signed last month by the Rangers' Derek Holland. He has similar service time to Niese, 25, who is about to begin his third full season in the majors.
The Mets declined to comment.
Terry Collins and the team's front office have raved about Niese since the start of spring training. His name briefly surfaced in trade discussions during the offseason, but the Mets now view him as a building block for the future. Niese was 1-1 with a 3.98 ERA in five Grapefruit starts and struck out 19 in 20 1/3 innings.
Niese is 22-23 with a 3.75 ERA in 105 starts and two relief appearances for the Mets. Two of his last three seasons were cut short by injuries, but any conditioning questions the Mets had about Niese were erased when he arrived at camp lighter and in better shape. Niese gave partial credit to the nose job financed by former teammate Carlos Beltran, who eventually footed the $10,000 tab.
Dickey spiked
R.A. Dickey almost didn't complete Sunday's four-inning tuneup against the Tigers after he was spiked while covering first on a none-out double play in the third. He needed two stitches to close the cuts on the back of his right heel but was otherwise OK.
The only thing seriously hurt was his ego after Prince Fielder took him off the canopy roof at the top of the rightfield berm. "That was ridiculous," he said.
Dickey finished his Grapefruit schedule with a 3.63 ERA in four starts and a relief appearance.
Extra bases
Andres Torres (calf strain) played in another minor-league game Sunday and is likely to do so again Monday before the Mets decide to risk a possible backdated stint on the disabled list by playing him in a Grapefruit League game Tuesday . . . Frank Francisco, bothered by a sore knee, will not pitch as scheduled Monday, but Collins believes he needs only a day off . . . Collins is optimistic that Tim Byrdak might open the season with the Mets. He struck out one in one inning of a minor-league game Sunday . . . Josh Edgin, one of the team's better relievers in spring training, was sent down. He struck out 13 in 101/3 innings. Collins said he will be a closer in the minors, adding: "We'll see him real soon."
