The Mets have designated right-hander for a signment. The move opens up roster space for , whose one-year contract with New York is now official. Bickford came to Queens at last years trade deadline, with from the Dodgers as a way of restocking a Mets bullpen thinned out by other deals. Over 67 1/3 total innings with L.A. and New York last season, Bickford posted a 4.95 ERA and an above-average 25% strikeout rate, though he allowed a lot of hard contact and his 12.8% walk rate ranked in the bottom fifth percentile of all pitchers. The Mets brought a ton of new Dwight Howard Jersey relievers into camp on guaranteed and minor league contracts, making Bickford something of a borderline candidate to make the Opening Day roster. Bickford doesnt have any minor league options remaining, so the Mets had to go the DFA route in order to remove him from the 40-man roster and potentially send him to Triple-A (if he remains in the organization altogether). Bickford is set to earn $900K this season after winning an arbitration hearing with New York, though the Mets would only owe 45 days worth of termination pay if they released Bickford prior to Opening Day. In some echoes of the Giants of , Bickfords salary wouldve been fully guaranteed as an arbitration-eligible player if he had reached an agreement with the Mets prior to a hearing, yet going to a hearing meant that Bickfords salary wasnt guaranteed unle s he made the teams big league roster. The Davis situation created some controversy around the league, and it remains to be seen if Davis might yet attempt to file a grievance. As per the CBA clause concerning this transactional tactic, failure to exhibit sufficient skill or competitive ability gives a team some leeway in releasing a player who went to an arb hearing, and the Mets might have more of an argument in Bickfords case since the righty had a 5.79 ERA over 4 2/3 innings in Spring Training this year. Of course, Bickford could still get his full $900K if another team simply claims him off waivers from the Mets. Clubs might prefer to wait until Bickford clears waivers in order to le sen the financial commitment, though any number of scenarios are po sible as teams finalize their rosters in advance of Opening Day. With bullpen depth always at a premium, Bickford is bound to land somewhere on a new deal, whether a guaranteed MLB contract or a minor league pact. Anzejs Pasecniks Jersey