Suspended relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia and the Mets went through the formality Tuesday of agreeing to a one-year contract worth $1,976,000 — money he never will receive.
Mejia was banned for life from baseball last Feb. 12 after his third positive test under MLB’s drug program. He remains on the Mets roster on the restricted list, but because he has four years of major league service he was eligible for salary arbitration.
Nevertheless, players serving drug suspensions do not get paid.
Mejia’s salary was cut the maximum 20 percent from his $2.47 million salary last year — money he also did not receive.