The Mets conducted some actual business yesterday, agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Angel Pagan to avoid arbitration.
Pagan is expected to compete with Carlos Beltran for the starting center field job, with the other player sliding over to start in right.
“For the first time in my career I have a spot on the team,” Pagan said in a statement. “But I’m not taking anything for granted. I can’t wait for spring training to start. I think we’ll be better than people are predicting.”
The team also finalized a two-year deal with R.A. Dickey worth approximately $7.8 million with a team option for 2013.
“My goal is to be the biggest bargain in baseball,” Dickey said.
Frank Viola was named as pitching coach of the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets’ Class A New York-Penn League affiliate. Viola will serve under Rich Donnelly, who will take over for Wally Backman, now the manager at Double-A Binghamton.