NEW YORK - The New York Mets have so much confidence in 41-year-old Orlando Hernandez, they're ready to keep him for two more seasons.

Hernandez and the Mets agreed Tuesday to a $12 million, two-year contract, filling a spot in an aging New York rotation that was ravaged by injuries during the team's playoff run last season.

El Duque, acquired from Arizona in May, went 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts for the Mets. He was in line to start the team's playoff opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers before injuring his calf.