Lucas Duda is coming off a breakout year with the Mets and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the two sides are currently discussing a long-term contract extension.
Duda is an interesting candidate for an extension, as he’s 29 and already under team control through 2017. He’s due to make $4.2 million in 2015. It would seem to make sense to continue to go year-to-year with him through arbitration, as he struggles against left-handed pitching and doesn’t have a long track record of success. Still, the Mets are at least exploring the possibility of cost certainty and could have some leverage in that given his age. They might even be able to buy out a free agent year. Duda’s agent, Dan Horwits, confirmed that talks have taken place this spring, but they will be tabled until the offseason if nothing is finalized before Opening Day.
Duda amassed 30 homers and 92 RBI last season to go along with an .830 OPS. He had a .766 OPS for his career coming into 2014.
