Breaking: New York Mets Release 28 year old After Salary Arbitration

Right-handed pitcher Phil Bickford was released by the New York Mets on Tuesday after clearing waivers. Bickford, a 28-year-old reliever, will receive $217,742 in termination pay instead of the $900,000 salary awarded by a salary arbitration panel.

In baseball, arbitration salaries are not guaranteed, so players with nonguaranteed contracts receive termination pay if released. Third baseman J.D. Davis was released by the San Francisco Giants earlier this month after winning $6.9 million in arbitration.

Bickford was designated for assignment by the Mets on Sunday to make room for J.D. Martinez. Bickford had a 4.62 ERA and one save in 25 games with the Mets, who acquired him from the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. Overall, in 2023, Bickford went 5-5 with a 4.95 ERA in 61 games

Phillip Roger Bickford, born on July 10, 1995, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets. Bickford attended Oaks Christian School and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013 but did not sign.

He played college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans and later transferred to the College of Southern Nevada. Bickford was traded to the Mets in August 2023 but was released after the signing of J.D. Martinez.

The New York Mets recently avoided arbitration with multiple players, including Pete Alonso, by agreeing to one-year deals. However, reliever Phil Bickford and the team couldn’t reach an agreement.

Bickford filed for a salary of $900,000, while the Mets counter-offered $815,000. As a result, a hearing was scheduled, and Bickford emerged as the winner, securing a salary of $900,000 for the 2024 season.

Bickford expressed his comfort with the process, crediting his agent and the Players Association for their support. Arbitration hearings in baseball involve teams making negative statements about players’ worth, while player representatives work to increase their value.

Mets president David Stearns admitted that the front office doesn’t desire the arbitration process but explained that once numbers are exchanged, the team doesn’t negotiate on one-year deals. Bickford was the only player to ask for less than $1 million and proceed to a hearing out of the 15 arbitration hearings held this year.

Despite concerns about potential hard feelings, Bickford saw the victory as doing what is right for himself as an MLB player. Meanwhile, Stearns acknowledged the unpredictability of the arbitration process. Bickford, currently fighting for a spot in the Mets’ bullpen, aimed to contribute to the team’s success.

In his four-year major league career, Bickford has a record of 11-8 with a 4.43 ERA and two saves in 179 games. Arbitration-eligible players’ salaries became guaranteed in the 2022 labor contract.

Additionally, the Mets released first baseman Luke Voit from a minor league contract. Voit had a .118 batting average with one home run and four RBIs in spring training.