Brooks Raley, RP
Player Data: Age: 35 (06/29/1988), B/T: L/L
Primary Stats: 66 G, 54 2/3 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.262 WHIP, 61 SO, 25 BB, 4 HR, 25 H, 3 SV
Advanced Stats: 151 ERA+, 3.68 FIP, 10 SO/9, 25.9 SO%, 10.6 BB%, 41.7 GB%, 1.4 bWAR
2023 Salary: $4.5 million
GRADE: B+
2023 REVIEW
Brooks Raley was by far the biggest surprise out of the Mets bullpen in 2023.
He was traded to the Mets on December 7, 2022, and was coming off an impressive 2022 season with the Rays where he registered a 2.68 ERA in 53 2/3 innings. The initial trade bolstered the Mets bullpen and gave them another legitimate arm behind Edwin Díaz.
Like most Met relievers, Raley’s role upgraded after Díaz missed the entirety of the 2023 season. With a new role and more pressure, Raley struggled at the beginning of the season. The lefty registered a 4.76 ERA between April and March, surrendering three home runs and six earned runs in 11 1/3 innings.
While tough, the first month didn’t define Raley’s season. He bounced back with a dominant May, striking out nine batters without allowing a run in seven innings. Raley then carried his momentum into June and July, where he struck out 23 batters and allowed four runs in 19 2/3 innings. In those three months combined, Raley registered a 1.35 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings.
Raley hit another bump in the road in August. He allowed 11 hits, eight runs (six earned), a home run, five walks, and an 8.53 ERA in 6 1/3 innings. While it was the worst month of the season for Raley, he still registered three holds in August, including one in a 7-6 win against the Braves on August 13.
Raley again bounced back in September and October. He struck out 15 batters and allowed one earned run in 10 1/3 innings, registering a 0.87 ERA between the two months while striking out 13.1 batters per nine innings. Raley’s performance in the last two months lowered his ERA from 3.13 to 2.80.
Raley was able to duplicate his 2022 season at age 35. He finished the 2023 season with a 2.80 ERA, struck out 10 batters per nine, and led the Mets’ bullpen with a 151 ERA+.
Raley’s advanced statistics didn’t dive either. He was exceptional at limiting hard-hit balls, finishing in the 95th percentile for average exit velocity (85.8 mph), 90th percentile for barrel percentage, and 96th percentile for Hard-Hit percentage.
The limitation of hard contact is directly correlated to Raley’s sweeper. He threw the pitch 356 times, registering a 33.7 whiff percentage and 22.7 put-away percentage. Batters only slugged .217 against the pitch.
The one area of concern for Raley was his walks. The lefty walked 25 batters in 2023, raising his walks per nine to over three (4.1) for the first time since 2020, which consequentially raised his WHIP to 1.262. With the added walks to his resume, Raley finished with a 3.68 FIP.
2024 OVERVIEW
Raley should be a reliable arm for the Mets in 2024. He had a second consecutive season with an ERA under three and struck out 10 batters per nine.
While his FIP was almost a full run higher than his ERA, it shouldn’t be a concern for the lefty. Raley’s walks have always fluctuated throughout his career and his ability to limit hard contact and induce groundballs eliminates base runners.
The return of Díaz also relegates Raley back to his original role on the team. A seventh-inning or left-handed matchup pitcher that can get the occasional save.
Raley has a $6.5 million club option attached to his second arbitration year which the Mets will certainly pick up.
