The Mets are in discussions with left-handed starting pitcher Jonathon Niese on a potential five-year contract extension with two option years, CBSSports.com insider Jon Heyman has learned. Heyman notes the deal is being modeled after Rangers starter Derek Holland's deal, which was signed earlier this offseason. That contract is for $28.5 million over five years, so the guess is this would be something similar for Niese.
Niese, 25, is still in his pre-arbitration years, but he would be eligible for arbitration next offseason. He wouldn't be a free agent until after the 2015 season. If the talks for this proposed contract are completed, Niese's free agency would be delayed until after the 2016 season, but the two option years could push it back until after 2018.
Niese was 11-11 with a 4.40 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 138 strikeouts in 157 1/3 innings last season for the Mets.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.
