Could the Mets add another reliever before spring training?
Even with the addition of Adam Ottavino, the Mets might not be done building their bullpen.
What’s Up with the Mets? 🍎
Even after signing Adam Ottavino the Mets could still look to add to the bullpen (SNY)
One potential option to beef up the bullpen is LHP Wandy Peralta (New York Post)
Have the Mets done enough to address their bullpen woes?✍️
Right now, if you log on to Roster Resource the Mets’ bullpen isn’t pretty.
Edwin Díaz, Adam Ottavino, and Brooks Raley are fine for the back end of the bullpen but it gets ugly real quick after that.
Borderline non-tender candidate Drew Smith is currently fourth on the depth chart, and considering the starters the team signed aren’t exactly known for going deep into games, this is a problem to say the least.
Beyond Smith there are Michael Tonkin, Jorge López, Sean Reid-Foley, and Phil Bickford. Perhaps they can catch lightning in a bottle with a couple of these relievers, but right now they don’t inspire much confidence, especially if they are needed often as the season goes on.
With the team building up their starter depth, they could solve the problem internally by adding either Joey Lucchesi or Tylor Megill to the bullpen, although right now Megill is viewed more as primary rotation depth. But according to the New York Post, Megill has developed a split-fingered fastball this offseason that the team believes is an elite pitch. While this certainly sounds promising, if it is successful it might be better suited for the bullpen as a swing-and-miss, late inning weapon for the club.
Lucchesi could serve as either the second lefty in the bullpen or as the long man to serve as a bridge through the middle innings to get to the back end of the bullpen. If they do want a more conventional left-hander to compliment Raley (who had reverse splits in 2023, by the way), Wandy Peralta is a solid option.
Peralta, 32, has spent the last three seasons with the Yankees and was solid, posting a 2.82 ERA over 165 appearances, and most recently pitched to a 2.83 ERA over 54 appearances with the Yankees with 51 strikeouts and only 36 hits allowed. His walk and home run rates were a bit concerning last season so he will definitely need to cut down on both. He isn’t the perfect reliever but who is in this part of the reliever market? He could be a better solution against left-handed hitters than Raley as Peralta does have traditional split differentials.
And, given the state of the rest of the bullpen that might be an investment worth undertaking.
Hot Stove 🔥
The Tigers signed prospect Colt Keith to a six-year contract worth $28.6 million without him playingn a game in the majors yet
Carlos Carrasco is reportedly heading back to the Guardians on a minor league deal
Both Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom could return around the All-Star break for the Rangers (ESPN)