The New York Mets have signed OF Michael Cuddyer to a two-year contract immediately after he declined his qualifying offer from the Colorado Rockies. The Mets will give up their fifteenth overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft.

Cuddyer played just 49 games last season, but still managed to bat .332/.376/.579 with 10 home runs and 31 RBI. In 2013, he posted a career-best .331/.389/.530 with 20 home runs and 84 RBI. That season, he won the Silver Slugger Award and was named to the All-Star team. Cuddyer is a career .279 batter, but his three-best averages have been in three of his last four seasons (2011, 2013, 2014).

Cuddyer will provide a much-needed outfield bat for the Mets, as their outfielders Matt den DekkerJuan LagaresCurtis Granderson, and Kirk Niewenhuis did not perform outstandingly at the plate in 2014. He will likely take over in left, with den Dekker, Lagares, and Niewenhuis platooning in center.

In 2014, Cuddyer was out for much of the season with a fractured hand and a strained hamstring. This is certainly a risky signing considering the loss of a mid first round pick, but if he stays healthy in 2015, Cuddyer will prove to be a great pickup for the Mets.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Ricky Salvatore
I cover Major League Baseball news for VAVEL USA. I am also the co-owner of @everythingmlb on Instagram. Find me on Twitter @rscatch9 or @EverythingMLB1.