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With Michael Cuddyer, Mets' payroll set to be highest since 2011

If the Mets retain all of the players they can, their payroll is almost at $100 million.

USA TODAY Sports

The Mets surprised just about everyone yesterday by signing Michael Cuddyer to a two-year, $21 million contract. Specifically, Cuddyer is set to earn $8.5 million in 2015 and $12.5 million in 2016. With that, the Mets' payroll is set to hit its highest Opening Day mark since 2011—assuming the Mets retain the rest of the players on their roster, including those eligible for arbitration. Here's a quick breakdown of the potential Opening Day 25-man roster and those players' salaries, with arbitration estimates from MLB Trade Rumors.

Pos Player 2015
C Travis d'Arnaud $500,000
1B Lucas Duda* $4,300,000
2B Daniel Murphy* $8,300,000
3B David Wright $20,000,000
SS Wilmer Flores $500,000
LF Curtis Granderson $16,000,000
CF Juan Lagares $500,000
RF Michael Cuddyer $8,500,000
BE Eric Young Jr.* $2,300,000
BE Anthony Recker $500,000
BE Eric Campbell $500,000
BE Matt den Dekker $500,000
BE Ruben Tejada* $1,700,000
SP Matt Harvey $500,000
SP Zack Wheeler $500,000
SP Jacob deGrom $500,000
SP Jon Niese $7,050,000
SP Bartolo Colon $11,000,000
RP Jenrry Mejia* $3,100,000
RP Jeurys Familia $500,000
RP Carlos Torres $500,000
RP Vic Black $500,000
RP Josh Edgin $500,000
RP Bobby Parnell* $3,700,000
RP Dillon Gee* $5,100,000
Total $97,550,000

*arbitration estimate

Beyond 2015, the Mets are now locked in to  $57.5 million in commitments to four players in 2016: Wright, Granderson, Cuddyer, and Niese. For 2017, they're locked in to $35.5 million in commitments to Wright, Granderson, and Niese. And from there, only David Wright is guaranteed a salary from the Mets: $20 million in 2018, $15 million in 2019, and $12 million in 2020.