Baseball Guru
11-20-2004, 03:40 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-mets-pitchers&prov=ap&type=lgns
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
November 19, 2004
NEW YORK (AP) -- Kris Benson and Al Leiter are likely to be back with the New York Mets next season.
Benson and the Mets closed in Friday on a three-year deal worth about $22.5 million, a baseball official with knowledge of the negotiations said on the condition of anonymity.
Leiter and New York were nearing agreement on a one-year contract worth $4 million to $5 million plus performance bonuses, the official said.
Benson was acquired by New York from Pittsburgh on July 30 along with infielder Jeff Keppinger for infielder Ty Wigginton, right-fielder Matt Peterson and infielder Jose Bautista. Benson, a 30-year-old right-hander, went 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 11 starts with the Mets and 12-12 with a 4.31 ERA overall.
Talks with his agent, Gregg Clifton, began soon after the trade.
``We've made tremendous progress over the last 48 hours, and we're getting within range where it's pretty much conceivable that we'll get a deal done,'' Clifton said.
Leiter, a 39-year-old left-hander, has pitched with the Mets for the past seven seasons and possibly could have interested the Yankees. After he went 10-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 30 starts last season, the Mets declined his $10.2 million option and opted to pay a $2.1 million buyout.
``We've had continuing conversations with the Mets,'' his agent, Alan Hendricks, said Friday.
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
November 19, 2004
NEW YORK (AP) -- Kris Benson and Al Leiter are likely to be back with the New York Mets next season.
Benson and the Mets closed in Friday on a three-year deal worth about $22.5 million, a baseball official with knowledge of the negotiations said on the condition of anonymity.
Leiter and New York were nearing agreement on a one-year contract worth $4 million to $5 million plus performance bonuses, the official said.
Benson was acquired by New York from Pittsburgh on July 30 along with infielder Jeff Keppinger for infielder Ty Wigginton, right-fielder Matt Peterson and infielder Jose Bautista. Benson, a 30-year-old right-hander, went 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 11 starts with the Mets and 12-12 with a 4.31 ERA overall.
Talks with his agent, Gregg Clifton, began soon after the trade.
``We've made tremendous progress over the last 48 hours, and we're getting within range where it's pretty much conceivable that we'll get a deal done,'' Clifton said.
Leiter, a 39-year-old left-hander, has pitched with the Mets for the past seven seasons and possibly could have interested the Yankees. After he went 10-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 30 starts last season, the Mets declined his $10.2 million option and opted to pay a $2.1 million buyout.
``We've had continuing conversations with the Mets,'' his agent, Alan Hendricks, said Friday.