Noah Syndergaard Skips WBC, Mets Nickel And Dime Him In Arbitration Over $9,000

Newsday – After his outing, Syndergaard was asked if he regrets passing on the opportunity to pitch for the United States in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. “Nope, not one bit,” the 24-year-old said. “I’m a Met. And ain’t nobody made it to the Hall of Fame or win a World Series playing in the WBC.”

Sporting News - Noah Syndergaard has reportedly refused to sign his contract offer from the Mets to protest his raise from last season. Coming off a season in which he went 14-9 with a 2.60 ERA and 10.7 Ks per nine innings, the hard-throwing right-hander deserved a raise. But the salary bump he got, from $503,375 to $605,550 per year, is peanuts in today’s market for a pitcher of Syndergaard’s caliber (the MLB minimum for 2017 is $535,000). Syndergaard is not yet eligible for arbitration, so the Mets hold all the cards in their relationship. After they announced Syndergaard was the only one of 21 Mets players not yet eligible for arbitration who had refused to 2017 contract terms, and the team had renewed his contract, the New York Daily News reported Syndergaard had not signed his contract. Fellow Mets starter Jacob deGrom used a similar tactic last season to protest his contract offer. Both Syndergaard and deGrom share the same agent, Brodie Van Wagenen.

First of all I fucking love Noah blowing off the WBC. I think its a relatively cool tournament that I dont want ANY of my players going near. Let the other 29 teams populate that shit. I need my ace saving that arm and focusing on the prize. No disrespect to your fake ass tournament, but I have millions to earn and rings to win so I will absolutely 100% not be attending.

Secondly, this little arbitration spat. Basically what it came down to is Noah asked for a $9,000 raise. He wanted to be paid about $615K. The Mets offered $605,000 because thats really all they are obligated to do under arbitration rules. So they nickel and dimed him to the tune of nine thousand dollars and Noah basically said fuck off.

Now there are two ways to look at this. The first is strictly dollars and sense and business. This is how baseball works. Young superstar players always get fucked during their arb years. The Mets at one point were fielding 3-4 STUD arms for a total of like 2 million dollars. It was the Wilpons dream. When you’re super talented you are VASTLY underpaid until you’re finally free from your initial contract. You get fucked in the beginning getting underpaid because in the long run you get stupid guaranteed money that you probably dont deserve. Baseball is the same sport where you have Bobby Bonilla making 30 million dollars 20 years after his retirement. Its the same sport where guys like Vernon Wells can have the biggest contract in sports. Lose out on 9k in the early days to make like $20 million guaranteed when you’re 38…thats a system I am A-OK with if I’m a Major League Baseball player. So while I’m sure Noah is pissed off just like any underpaid employee would be, you gotta acknowledge that theres a system in place that ultimately works in your favor. If every team starts making small exceptions based on talent for every negotiation, the whole process of managing your roster and your money becomes a ridiculous process. There’s already a system that judges years and talent and money and thats what they use.

The second way is to look at this through the lens of being a Mets fan. See, the Mets are like a fat chick. Which means they need to try that much harder when it comes to landing a 6 foot 6, 240 pound dude with a mane of blond flowing locks. A guy like Noah doesnt fuck with fat girls unless they go above and beyond. Noah is not gonna marry a fat, ugly girl like the Mets unless they woo the shit out of him. Give him whatever he wants because he is the best you’re ever gonna have. Give him $9,000 now in the hopes that he’ll consider staying with your overweight disgusting, heinous ass for the rest of his life. Like a fat chick who just constantly gives head so that boys will like her. The Mets need to give Noah some head now so maybe he’ll put a ring on it.

Either viewpoint is acceptable in my eyes.