Lucas Duda and the Mets had been working to come to terms on a new, long-term agreement over the last couple of weeks, but were unable to before Duda’s deadline for Opening Day.
Still, Duda is not upset the two sides couldn’t come to terms Instead, telling reporters on Monday he feels fortunate as a player.
It’s not the end of the world for either side. The Mets can now wait and see if 2014 was a fluke for Duda, or the start of what they have been waiting for and banked on when they dealt Ike Davis last April.
For Duda, he can hopefully put together another big year which would give him even more leverage in future negotiations for a long-term contract. If that doesn’t happen, he will have more leverage next winter when he enters his third year of arbitration, anyway.
Sandy Alderson told reporters he does not expect talks between the club and Duda’s agents to resume this season.
Just Mets 