R.A. Dickey has roughly eight million good reasons to give thanks for his knuckleball.
The veteran right-hander will avoid arbitration after agreeing to a two-year contract for about $8 million, a source confirmed to The Post last night. The deal is expected to include a third-year team option.
Dickey had requested $4.7 million for 2011 when arbitration figures were exchanged last week. The Mets were offering $3.35 million.
The 36-year-old was among the few bright spots for the Mets last season, posting an 11-9 record with a 2.84 ERA.
Dickey’s signing leaves Angel Pagan as the last arbitration-eligible player on the Mets awaiting a contract. Pagan has requested $4.2 million and was offered $3.06 million by the Mets.
Dickey figures prominently in a rotation besieged by question marks as the Mets await the return of Johan Santana from shoulder surgery. The Mets will head to spring training with Dickey, Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese as the givens for the starting rotation. The remaining two spots will be filled from a group that includes Chris Young, Dillon Gee and Chris Capuano.