The Mets' biggest competitor in the Juan Soto sweepstakes makes their pitch today
The Mets added to their infield depth, and what is the relief corps going to look like?
What’s Up with the Mets? 🍎
The Mets signed infielder Donovan Walton to a minor league contract on Sunday (MLBTradeRumors)
The Yankees will make their pitch to Juan Soto today (SI)
Rumor Mill 💨
The Red Sox are reportedly talking to LHP Blake Snell (Podcast link)
The Rays had interest in bringing back Travis d’Arnaud for a second stint before the veteran catcher signed with the Angels (Tampa Bay Times)
What is the Mets bullpen going to look like in 2024?… ✍️
There is so much up in the air with the Mets right now, and it certainly feels like a lot of their potential decisions this winter are on hold until there’s a resolution in the high-profile Juan Soto sweepstakes.
But a part of the team that has been under-discussed so far during the off-season and certainly needs some attention is its relief corps.
Let’s take a look at how New York’s bullpen depth chart currently looks, shall we?
After working out some understandable kinks after missing a full season, Edwin Díaz was—for the most part—solid in the closer’s role, particularly down the stretch.
He finished his season with 20 saves, a 3.52 ERA, and a strikeout rate of more than 14 per nine innings. The Mets have every reason to expect Díaz to be even better in his second season back from injury and feel good about him anchoring their bullpen.
Beyond that, though, this looks dicey.
Reed Garrett was a godsend for the Mets bullpen in 2024, turning in easily the best season of his career. In 53 games, he contributed a 3.77 ERA while winning eight games in relief, and at times, his splitter was the best weapon the team had coming out of the bullpen.
He’ll clearly be back in 2025, but relief pitching can be fickle, and with such a minimal track record, it would be tough for the Mets to count on him to be the 8th inning man.
The same can be said for the young Dedniel Núñez, who showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie and is an arm New York’s brass is extremely excited about. But at the same time, he struggled to stay healthy and has only 25 Major League appearances on his resume.
The back half of the depth chart listed above consists mostly of names we know and have seen already, and while they can conceivably serve as depth pieces, they’re not arms you would really call high leverage.
So I think it’s pretty clear the Mets need to be shopping for late-inning relief pitchers, particularly ones that throw hard and can miss bats in the biggest games.
Ryne Stanek comes to mind immediately as someone I think should be a pretty high priority for the Mets to re-sign.
The veteran struggled some after he first arrived in Queens from Seattle last summer, pitching to an ERA over six in his 17 regular-season appearances for the Mets. But he was able to flip a switch in the postseason and really for most of October used his triple-digits fastball to become the primary setup man for Diaz.
In addition to Stanek, all of Drew Smith, Brooks Raley, Phil Maton, and Adam Ottavino are currently free agents from last season’s relief corps.
Smith and Raley both ended up missing the majority of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, Maton was the opposite of Stanek—solid in the regular season but a disaster in October—and Ottavino’s time in Queens has run its course.
With that said, it’s pretty apparent this team needs external additions, so let’s throw a few names out there.
On the free-agent market, there are a plethora of veterans that have enjoyed periods of sustained success like Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman, Blake Treinen, Clay Holmes, and A.J. Minter available.
I wouldn’t be opposed to the Mets bringing in somebody from that group, but trying to build an entire bullpen with guys over 30 years old with a lot of mileage on their arms screams the word risky.
My biggest priority among free agents would hands down be southpaw Tanner Scott, whom the Mets are extremely familiar with from his time in Miami. Scott was someone that made sense for the Mets last summer before he was traded to San Diego, and with money the only thing needed to acquire him now he is someone that makes even more sense. The veteran would bring a dynamic late-inning arm with closing experience, and would instantly be the best left-handed relief option the Mets have had in quite some time.
But I fully expect David Stearns to cast a wide net in his search for relief help. There have been rumblings that Devin Williams could potentially be had via trade, and it would make a whole lot of sense for Stearns to check in on his former closer in Milwaukee.
I’d also call St. Louis, because with the Cardinals seemingly entering a transition phase, it would make sense for them to consider moving their electric closer, Ryan Helsley, who will be a free agent after next season.
It likely wouldn’t go anywhere, yet again, but why not check in with the Reds about Alexis Díaz and try to keep the dream of uniting the Diaz brothers in the same bullpen alive?
The point is, we know the Mets need to make bullpen additions, but these aren’t the Wilpon Mets anymore. No more bargain bin shopping for lottery tickets. This team needs impact, high-leverage arms to deploy late in games, and they should be eyeing some of the best relievers in baseball.
This will be an interesting situation to monitor all winter.
Around the League 🚩
The Diamondbacks signed both catcher Aramis Garcia and infielder Connor Kaiser to minor league deals (Arizona Sports)
RHP Nick Ramirez accepted the qualifying offer from Cincinnati (Romero)
Would Stearns sign Tanner Scott for 4 years/$55 million? I would.
I am hoping that we’ve seen the last of Drew Smith in a Mets uniform.