Mets give retention bonuses to 6, assuring depth

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets said they’ll give $100,000 retention bonuses to six players at spring training with minor league contracts, assuring depth by keeping outfielders Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco, left-hander Hector Santiago, catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.

Just three other players received the retention bonus offers before Saturday’s noon EDT deadline: Chicago White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana, San Diego catcher Chris Stewart and Toronto right-hander Bud Norris.

Players will receive the bonus by April 15 and can start the season in the minor leagues. A player has until May 28 to ask for his release if not added to the 40-man roster by June 1.

The deadline was Saturday for teams to make decisions on players who exercised free agency rights after the World Series and then agreed to minor league deals. Teams could inform the player they will be added to the big league roster by opening day next Thursday, offer the retention bonus or release the player.

Texas told Logan Forsythe, Jeanmar Gomez and Hunter Pence they will make the opening-day roster, and Pittsburgh notified Melky Cabrera and left-hander Francisco Liriano.

Other players told they’ll make the opening-day roster include Detroit second baseman Gordon Beckham, Miami outfielder Curtis Granderson, Cincinnati shortstop Jose Iglesias, San Francisco outfielder Gerardo Parra, Colorado first baseman Mark Reynolds and St. Louis catcher Matt Wieters.

Released players may re-sign with the same teams or elsewhere. Players released from minor league deals they signed as free agents included shortstop Alcides Escobar and outfielder Eric Young Jr. (Baltimore); right-hander Junichi Tazawa (Chicago White Sox); right-hander Tyler Clippard, infielder Ryan Flaherty and outfielder Matt Joyce (Cleveland); right-hander Randall Delgado and outfielder Brandon Guyer (White Sox); catcher Bobby Wilson (Detroit); right-hander Daniel Hudson (Los Angeles Angels); right-hander Josh Tomlin (Milwaukee); left-hander Tim Collins, first baseman Lucas Duda and infielder Adam Rosales (Minnesota); catcher Drew Butera and infielder/outfielder Andrew Romine (Philadelphia); outfielder Cameron Maybin and catcher Rene Rivera (San Francisco); right-hander Jason Hammel (Texas) and right-hander John Axford (Toronto).