Mets, Nomo Agree To Deal
The New York Mets Monday avoided arbitration with Hideo Nomo, agreeing to a one-year, $2.925 million deal with the Japanese right-hander whose career has declined steadily since being named 1995 National League Rookie of the Year.
With incentives, Nomo could earn over $3 million next season.
Nomo was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a June 5 trade and was 4-5 with a 5.04 ERA in 16 games for the Mets. In 85 2/3 innings, he allowed 70 hits, 49 runs -- 48 earned -- with 56 walks and 91 strikeouts.
For the Dodgers, he was 2-7 with a 5.05 ERA in 12 games.
"We are looking for Hideo to have a comeback year," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "If he can cut down on his walks, which we think he can, there is no doubt in my mind he can once again become one of the top starting pitchers in the National League."
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Nomo won the NL Rookie of the Year for the Dodgers in 1995 with a 13-6 record and a 2.54 ERA. He was 16-11 with a 3.19 ERA the following season and 14-12 with a 4.25 ERA in 1997.
On September 17, 1996, Nomo pitched the only no-hitter in the history of hitter-friendly Coors Field, stopping the Colorado Rockies, 9-0. For his career, the 30-year-old Nomo is 49-41 with a 3.68 ERA in 122 games.
Nomo is expected to be part of a rotation that includes Al Leiter, Rick Reed, Bobby Jones and Masato Yoshii. The Mets also are believed to be pursuing free-agent left-hander Allen Watson.
The deal leaves pitchers Turk Wendell, Jason Isringhausen and Armando Benitez and infielders Edgardo Alfonzo and Rey Ordonez as Mets eligible for arbitration.
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