Matt Harvey has insurance policy protecting future earnings from arm injury

New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey has an insurance policy put in place by his agent Scott Boras protecting him if he suffers an injury that leads to loss of potential earnings.

Such policies are common in the sports world for elite college and professional athletes, but Harvey's is newsworthy because the entire final six weeks of the regular season around the Mets were spent debating whether the team should stop using Harvey because he is in his first season following Tommy John surgery and he was approaching, and ultimately surpassed, a 180-innings limit his agent and the team had discussed before the season.

CBSSports reported Boras secured the policy for Harvey at the end of the regular season.

Harvey won't be a free agent until 2018, but he is eligible for arbitration this winter and figures to get a nice bump in pay from the $614,125 he is making this season. Harvey was absolutely dominant against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series and has now pitched 202 innings this season.

During the sixth inning of Game 1, Harvey took a line drive off his right triceps. The area has swollen in recent days leading to questions about his availability if the Mets need him to start a possible Game 5. The swelling is not believed to be related to his Tommy John surgery in any way.

The 202 innings he has pitched this season are the fifth most ever for a pitcher in his return season from the surgery. Harvey has a chance to set the record if his team advances to the World Series. John Lackey set the standard at 2151/3 innings in 2013 when he was with Boston.