Mets strike deal with 2B Mcneil

NEW YORK — Batting champion Jeff Mcneil and the New York Mets finalized a $50 million, four-year contract Tuesday that avoided a salary arbitration hearing.

Mcneil gets $6.25 million this year, $10.25 million in 2024 and $15.75 million in each of the following two years. The Mets have a $15.75 million option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout, a season that if exercised would make the agreement worth $63.75 million over five years.

The move was the latest by the high-spending Mets. who added pitcher Justin Verlander and David Robertson, catcher Omar Narváez and outfielder Tommy Pham, and also reached a $162 million, eight-year deal to keep outfielder Brandon Nimmo.

A two-time All-star, Mcneil led the majors with a .326 average last season. The second baseman asked for a raise from $3 million to $7.75 million this year, while New York offered $6.25 million.

Rays have deal with Díaz: Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Díaz agreed to a $24 million, three-year contract that avoided a salary arbitration hearing.

Díaz's agreement could be worth $36 million over four seasons.

The 31-year old will receive $6 million this season, $8 million in 2024 and $10 million for 2025. The 2026 club is $12 million with no buyout. There is a $1 million assignment bonus that would be payable by receiving team.

Díaz has a career average of .278 with 39 home runs and 198 RBIS.

Ex-cub Fowler retires:

Dexter Fowler says he is retiring at age 36 after 14 major league seasons.

An All-star outfielder in 2016 when he won a World Series title with the Chicago Cubs, Fowler hit .259 with 127 homers and 517 RBIS.

A 14th-round pick by Colorado in the 2004 amateur draft, Fowler played for the Rockies (2008-13), Houston (2014), the Cubs (2015-16), St. Louis (2017-20) and the Los Angeles Angels (2021).

Fowler signed a minor league contract with Toronto last March 31. He played three games for Class AAA Buffalo in April then was released on May 3.