Mets ownership may be in dire straits financially, but that didn’t stop them from locking up homegrown pitcher Jonathon Niese.

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Niese, who is only 25 years old, agreed to a 5 year $25 million deal with the club. The deal includes two team options that could reportedly raise the value of the deal to $46 million.

Niese went 11-11 last year, in his second full season in the majors, with a 4.40 ERA. A finesse pitcher with a fantastic curveball, Niese slots in behind Johan Santana as the Mets #2 starter, although he would likely be a 3rd or strong 4th starter on a contending club. The Mets 2012 starting rotation will round itself out with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, Dillion Gee and Mike Pelfrey.

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