Brandon Lyon has agreed to a one year deal with the New York Mets the Daily News reported. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that Lyons base salary will be between $7500,000 and $900,000 with performance incentives that could bring the final value of the contract to $2.4 million.
Releiver Brandon Lyon agreed to terms with New York Mets on a one year deal Thursday. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Lyon went 4-2 with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 61.0 IP split between the Astros and Blue Jays in 2012. After being traded to the Jays, Lyon pitched particularly well, going 4-0 with a 1.12 WHIP in 25.0 innings. Lyon averaged over a strikeout per inning in 2012 for the first time in his career.
Lyon and the recently signed LaTroy Hawkins will join holdovers Frank Francisco and Bobby Parnell in Sandy Alderson’s reworked pen. Hard throwing Jeurys Familia and Jenrry Mejia will also challenge for roles in spring training. Newly signed, but familiar face Pedro Feliciano will battle Tim Byrdak and Josh Edgin to be the primary lefty reliever.
Lyon has some experience closing, he saved 26 games for Arizona in 2008 and 20 for Houston in 2010. Since Bobby Parnell has faltered when given a chance to close, Terry Collins may feel more comfortable turning to Lyon if (more likely when) Frank Francisco hits a rough patch. Lyon and Francisco have similar career ratios, so Collins is not exactly choosing between Dennis Eckersley and Mariano Rivera.
Alderson has done nice job rebuilding the Mets bullpen. Hawkins and Lyon are dependable, if not spectacular, set up options. Along with veterans like Hawkins, there is a good mix of youth with hopefuls Edgin, Familia and Mejia. What the Mets really need is for Bobby Parnell to harness his fastball and nerve and transfer his eighth inning success to the closer role.