Mets Officially Announce Jon Niese's 5-Year Extension

The New York Mets officially announced a new five-year extension with left-handed starting pitcher Jon Niese on Saturday morning, a deal reportedly worth $25.5 million.

The deal also has two club option years that can push the total of the deal to around $46 million, but the club can also buyout the final years for $500,000 for each year.

Niese's deal: 2012 - $1.02 M, 2013 - $3 M, 2014 - $5 M, 2015 - $7 M, 2016 - $9 M opt: 2017 - $10 M (500K buyout 2018 - $10.5 M (500 K buyout

— David Lennon (@DPLennon) April 7, 2012

"It means a lot. It's a relief. It's just a burden off my shoulders,'' the 25-year-old Niese told reporters after the Mets' 1-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. "It's something that I don't have to think about. When I go out there to pitch I can just go out there, pitch, have fun, help my team win.''

Pitching for the Mets in 2011, Niese picked up an 11-11 record with a 4.40 ERA. Over the past four seasons with the Mets, he has a combined record of 22-23 with a 4.39 ERA. Niese is just one of the young players the Mets have locked up as they attempt to recover from the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme and try to get back to being a playoff-contending club.

For more on the Niese deal and the New York Mets, visit SB Nation's Mets blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York.

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