Posted at 12:39 p.m., Wednesday, December 19, 2001

Agbayani agrees to $600,000, one-year deal with Mets

Associated Press

NEW YORK — Outfielder Benny Agbayani and the New York Mets avoided salary arbitration when they agreed Wednesday to a $600,000, one-year contract.

In addition, New York agreed to minor league contracts with infielder-outfielder Mark Johnson and left-hander Bobby M. Jones and invited then to spring training as non-roster players.

Agbayani, 29, hit .277 with 14 doubles, two triples, six homers and 27 RBIs in 91 games last season. The Hawaii-born outfielder can earn $350,000 in bonuses based on plate appearances: $50,000 each for 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 plus $100,000 for 550.

The Mets had a tentative deal to trade Agbayani's rights to the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League but it fell through when Agbayani and the Giants could not agree to a contract.

Johnson, 35, batted .407 (11-for-27) as a pinch-hitter, the top average in the major leagues for pinch-hitters with 20 or more plate appearances. Overall, he hit .254 (30-for-118) with six homers and 23 RBIs in 64 games. He also hit .316 with eight homers and 25 RBIs in 42 games at Triple-A Norfolk.

Jones, 29, missed last season with left rotator cuff tendinitis and a strained right knee.