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The Mets and Matt Harvey avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $5.125 million salary for the pitcher for the 2017 season. Harvey can earn another $100,000 in performance bonuses on top of the base salary.
Entering his age-28 season, Harvey is coming off an injury-shortened 2016 season during which he struggled. He made 17 starts but had a 4.86 ERA and 3.47 FIP in 92.2 innings, and he struck out just 7.38 opposing hitters per nine innings. All of those numbers were completely out of step with his career norms. He was much better in 2015, his first season following Tommy John surgery, but his struggles last year likely had to do with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which was diagnosed and operated upon last summer.
As for his salary this year, the number Harvey and the Mets agreed upon was nearly identical to the projection at MLB Trade Rumors that estimated he’d earn $5.2 million.