Mets’ deal with Kumar Rocker is up in the air

The Mets have expressed concern about first-round pick Kumar Rocker’s pitching elbow after a physical examination, leaving a deal with the star Vanderbilt pitcher in jeopardy, according to the Post’s Ken Davidoff. The Mets initially agreed to sign their first-round pick to a $6 million signing bonus, but that deal now looks to be in trouble days before the Sunday deadline to sign draft picks.

Rocker’s camp has downplayed the concerns, presumably with the intention of preserving the original agreed-upon signing bonus. If the Mets and Rocker don’t agree on a figure before Sunday evening, Rocker can choose to return to Vanderbilt for his senior season and enter the 2022 MLB Draft.

Rocker has been considered one of baseball’s top amateur prospects over his last two seasons at Vanderbilt, but he fell to the Mets at tenth overall in this year’s draft. Rumors of damage to Rocker’s pitching elbow have circulated, but no reported injury reached the Mets before the draft.