Pace Law School in White Plains won the sixth annual Tulane National Baseball Arbitration Competition in New Orleans in 2013. This week, coach Dan Masi’s team of James Di Maggio, Scott Koren, Earl J. Menard III, Bryan Kelly and Joseph Moravec offers salary projections for the New York Mets' arbitration-eligible players. Now up: Wilmer Flores.

Flores has become a fan favorite during his four years with the major league club. His 2016 season saw him match his career high for home runs (16). He also produced career highs for batting average (.267), OBP (.319) and slugging percentage (.469). Although versatile, Flores is best compared with middle infielders. Therefore, the players that are most comparable to Flores are Neil Walker, Gordon Beckham and Anthony Rendon.

Walker ($3.3 million), Beckham ($2.925 million) and Rendon ($2.8 million) have many similar statistics during their platform years and careers. Specifically, Walker and Beckham had nearly identical home run totals during their platform seasons. And all four players had similar home run totals in their careers at comparable points. Walker, however, had a stronger batting average, OBP and slugging percentage compared with Beckham and Flores. Flores does have a higher batting average and slugging percentage than Beckham.

Another key statistic that both Walker and Beckham have a significant edge in is games played. In that statistic, Flores is most comparable to Rendon. Flores and Rendon also have near-identical slugging percentages over their careers at the comparable point. Flores does, however, own more RBIs and a higher batting average throughout their careers.

For these reasons, although Flores’ superior platform-year statistics will put him above a player such as Rendon, his lack of career playing time should keep him below Walker and Beckham’s salaries at the comparable career point.

Projection: Wilmer Flores should receive $2.9 million for 2017.