Mets reliever López can earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses in addition to $2 million salary

NEW YORK (AP) — Relief pitcher Jorge López can earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses in addition to his $2 million salary as part of his one-year contract with the New York Mets.

López would get $200,000 each for 35 relief appearances or 35 innings and each additional five relief appearances or five innings through 55 as part of the deal announced Dec. 14.

He would get $250,000 apiece for 60 relief appearances or 60 innings and for 65 relief appearances or 65 innings.

López would get $50,000 for winning the Cy Young Award, $25,000 for finishing second in the voting or $10,000 for third. He would get $50,000 if he is an All-Star or wins a Glove Glove, $100,000 for World Series MVP and $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP.

A right-hander who turns 31 in February, López pitched for three playoff teams last season, going 6-2 with a 5.95 ERA and three saves in 61 relief appearances for Minnesota, Miami and Baltimore.

López moved exclusively to the bullpen in 2022 and was a dominant closer for the Orioles during four breakout months that earned him an All-Star selection. Baltimore traded him to the Twins in early August that year and he finished 4-7 with a 2.54 ERA and 23 saves in 67 games.

López is 22-40 with a 5.51 ERA and 27 saves in 230 games, including 58 starts, over eight seasons for Milwaukee, Kansas City, Baltimore, Minnesota and Miami. He pitched for the Brewers when their general manager was David Stearns, the Mets’ new president of baseball operations.

Stearns traded López and outfielder Brett Phillips to Kansas City in July 2018 for infielder Mike Moustakas.

Among the Mets' other offseason moves, right-hander Michael Tonkin would get a $1 million salary in the major leagues and $400,000 in the minors as part of his one-year contract, which includes $400,000 in guaranteed money.

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