NEW YORK — Eager to go on a long-overdue playoff run, the New York Mets realized they owed their pitching staff — and fans — a proven hitter.

On Monday, they got one.

The Mets made baseball’s first splash of the offseason, agreeing with two-time All-Star outfielder Michael Cuddyer on a two-year deal worth $21 million.

“Michael is a tremendous addition to the middle of our lineup,” general manager Sandy Alderson said in a statement.

The 2013 NL batting champion became the first top free agent to switch teams since the World Series. Cuddyer, who turns 36 in March, had until later in the day to decide whether to accept a $15.3 million qualifying offer from Colorado.

“Sandy has talked about we’re looking to turn the corner here and start to compete in 2015,” Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said at the GM meetings in Arizona.

“I think this is a message that we’re going to be aggressive. Right out of the box we had a guy we liked, and we went and got him,” he said.

When he’s healthy, Cuddyer hits. Even when he’s hurt, he still swings a serious bat.

Cuddyer batted .332 with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs this year in a season interrupted by injuries.

He was limited to 49 games and was on the disabled list three times because of a strained left shoulder and a strained left hamstring.

“He took a physical today. We’ve looked at all the injuries and there was nothing there that we were too concerned about,” Ricco said. “And the age is the age. Certainly there’s risk associated with any signing.”