Mets, Benitez Come To Terms

Armando Benitez woke up to a pleasant surprise Thursday: His agent and the New York Mets agreed to a $22 million, four-year contract.

"I found out this morning and I said `good' because I was nervous," the closer said. "I'm very happy."

Instead of going through with an arbitration hearing in Tampa, agent Mike Powers and general manager Steve Phillips finally culminated weeks of talks.

Benitez, who made $2,037,500 last year, gets a $750,000 signing bonus payable over three years, $3.25 million this season, $5,625,000 in each of the following two years and $6.75 million in 2003.

"The deal we reached is a win-win situation for both Armando and his security and the Mets having one of the best young closers in the game," assistant general manager Omar Minaya said. "Negotiations lasted until 1 a.m. and Steve felt we pretty much had a deal at that point."

Benitez, a 27-year-old right-hander, was 4-3 with 1.85 ERA and 22 saves in 77 games for the Mets last year.

"The contract had to go longer than three years in order to make a deal," Powers said. "We had a desire to stay in New York; the Mets wanted us to stay as well. That didn't clinch it, but at least it allowed us to sit down, grind it out and make it work."

Benitez had asked for $4.9 million in arbitration and had been offered $3.25 million.

"I really don't care what he signs for and all that stuff," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "I just wanted him in camp."

Benitez came to the Mets from the Baltimore Orioles in a three-team trade after the 1998 season. The bullpen was one of the reasons the Mets made the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.

"We got comfortable in the bullpen," Benitez said. "Especially (John) Franco when he helped me."

Benitez became the seventh Mets player to avoid arbitration this season, following outfielder Matt Franco ($462,500), right-hander Pat Mahomes ($750,000), shortstop Rey Ordonez ($19 million for four years), right-hander Rick Reed ($4,375,000) and right-hander Turk Wendell ($2,050,013).

The Mets haven't had an arbitration hearing since 1992.

"A lot of times arbitration can get ugly," Minaya said.

New York received more pleasant news Thursday when Derek Bell checked into camp. Bell, acquired from the Houston Astros, tied up his 63-foot yacht in a nearby marina and arrived at the complex during the afternoon.

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