DENVER — Chris Bassitt finally has his 2022 contract finalized, with an option for next season.
The right-hander avoided arbitration with the Mets, agreeing Saturday to an $8.65 million deal for this year, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman. The deal includes a mutual option for next season worth $19 million with a $150,000 buyout. The buyout will bring the total value of his 2022 contract to $8.8 million.
The Mets acquired the 33-year-old Bassitt from Oakland in March for J.T. Ginn and Adam Oller. The deal brought another high-end arm to a rotation that already had Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer.
In spring training, the Mets failed to reach agreement on a contract for this year. An arbitration hearing would have been held Monday.
“I didn’t want to go to trial,” Bassitt said after the Mets beat the Rockies 5-1 in Game 1 of a doubleheader. “I like everyone here and it was more so I think we have a really good relationship here and why even remotely try to mess with that?”
Bassitt has excelled over eight starts, pitching to a 2.77 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. His presence has increased in significance with deGrom and Scherzer both on the injured list.
Bassitt said a long-term agreement with the Mets is a topic for another day.
“A lot of people are short-term thinking this year now,” Bassitt said. “We have such a special group that I don’t really want to be a distraction and hurt that in any way, so if something does happen I am really happy about that. I love it here. I love everyone here so far. I would love to do something long term, but I am so focused on this year and what this team needs right now that it’s hard to think about ’23, ’24.”
Seth Lugo’s two shutout innings in Game 1 hardly went unnoticed by manager Buck Showalter, who was happy he didn’t have to utilize Edwin Diaz, saving an arm for the nightcap.
“I felt like our best chance to keep Edwin from getting up was to pitch Lugo a second inning because he’s a guy who has done it before,” Showalter said.
Jake Reed was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to give the Mets extra bullpen protection. In addition, Adonis Medina was added as the 27th player for the doubleheader. Gosuke Katoh was optioned, and Scherzer was officially placed on the 15-day injured list with an oblique strain.