José Butto, SP
Player Data: Age: 25 (03/19/1998), B/T: R/R
Primary Stats: 7 GS, 1-4, 42 IP, 3.64 ERA, 1.333 WHIP, 38 SO, 23 BB
Advanced Stats: 117 ERA+, 4.02 FIP, 8.1 SO/9, 21.2% SO%, 12.9% BB%, 41.5% GB%, 0.9 bWAR
2023 Salary: $770,000
Grade: B-
2023 Review
José Butto made one spot start against the Philadelphia Phillies in August of 2022, with the remainder of his appearances coming in Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse last season. His impact at the big league level going into 2023 campaign was a bit unknown, given how many starting pitchers seemed to be ahead of him in the pecking order. But early stints on the injured list for Justin Verlander, Carlos Carrasco and José Quintana opened the door for Butto less than three weeks into the regular season.
He made his season debut on April 16 against the Oakland Athletics, allowing one earned run across five innings in a 4-3 victory. Butto would make another start nine days later, this time against the Washington Nationals. Following that, he would make one relief appearance on May 3 against the Detroit Tigers before being sent back down to Triple-A. It felt as if the only way Butto would return to the big league ball club was if someone went down with an injury or a starting pitcher was moved in a trade.
The later occurred for the right-hander, as Verlander and Max Scherzer were traded to the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers, respectively. Once August arrived, it had become evident that the New York Mets had begun looking more towards 2024. That mindset meant that Butto would get an extended run in the rotation, giving the young arm an important opportunity, one that was going to significantly impact his role in the rotation for the following season.
Butto impressed throughout the month of September, as he allowed two runs or less in four of his five appearances. He also threw six innings or more in three of those five starts. Butto finished the season against the Phillies on October 1, allowing two runs on five hits in six innings pitched. The Venezuelan international was 1-2 with a 3.29 ERA across 27 1/3 innings in his final five starts.
José Butto. Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports
2024 Overview
How the starting rotation looks for the Mets on Opening Day will largely depend on their decisions in free agency, but regardless of who they sign, Butto has done enough to put himself in the mix for a spot on the big league roster. David Peterson, Tylor Megill and Joey Lucchesi are likely in the same situation, so the four of them will be battling it out when spring training comes around. With Carrasco now a free agent, one of those four will be all but guaranteed a spot in the starting rotation when the seasons begins in March — only if New York does not add at least three starters.
The question is, which starter will rise among the rest to grab a hold of the opportunity?
Despite all this, and the fact Butto performed very well in the month of September, he will likely start the 2024 season in Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets are going to sign at least one or two starting pitchers to add to a rotation that already includes Kodai Senga and Quintana. One would expect Peterson and even Megill to get a chance ahead of him, but Butto will definitely get his chances at the big league level in 2024.
