Infielder Wilmer Flores will make $2.2 million in 2017 after winning his arbitration case against the New York Mets.
Spring training hasn’t even started yet, but infielder Wilmer Flores has already won. Flores has officially beat out the New York Mets in his MLB salary arbitration case.According to the New York Daily News, Flores will make $2.2 million this year. The Mets had offered a $1.8 million salary.
The team from Queens entered the offseason with 10 players eligible for arbitration, but Flores was the only one that couldn’t reach a settlement. The infielder is the first Mets player to go to arbitration since Oliver Perez in 2008.
Last year, he hit .267/.319/.469 with 16 home runs and a career best 112 wRC+, according to Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors. He also had a 1.093 OPS and 49 RBIs in 2016.
Flores is expected to have a huge role with the Mets this season. He will likely be the primary backup for Neil Walker at second base and Lucas Duda at first base. He could also play third, along with Jose Reyes, if David Wright ends up on the disabled list.
The Flores arbitration case ends a busy week for the Mets as they signed relievers Fernando Salas, Tom Gorzelanny and Jerry Blevins on Friday.
