Adding a middle reliever before the Aug. 1 trade deadline “has become a near certainty” for the Mets, according to what team officials have told Newsday’s Marc Carig.
“The reality is as you move through the season, bullpens get taxed,” Mets assistant general manager John Ricco told Newsday. “Certainly, this year, we’re looking toward fortifying in that way.”
The Mets are getting solid seasons from setup man Addison Reed and closer Jeurys Familia, and Jerry Blevins has exceeded expectations while posting a 2.08 ERA. Hansel Robles has been a veritable Swiss Army knife in the bullpen, being used effectively in long relief and in various high pressure situations with mostly positive results. However, behind these arms there are some serious questions in the bullpen and an experienced arm could make a huge difference as the Mets chase another playoff spot.
The Mets reportedly lost out on Kevin Jepsen, but here are some other options, a few of whom have already been linked to the club.
Jeremy Jeffress – After having had two dominant years as a set-up man for for Met Francisco Rodriguez, the 28 year old Jeffress was handed the reins this year, and he his having as dominant a year as any closer in baseball. In his 42 appearances, Jeffress is 23 for 24 in save chances while posting a 2.23 ERA and a 1.289 WHIP. Despite his fastball averaging nearly 97 MPH, he does not have high strikeout totals but he induces weak ground balls off his power sinker and his changeup. On occasion, the has toyed with a a slider, but he has not thrown it much in games over the course of his career. He could prove to be expensive as he is under team control until 2020.
John Axford – Axford has some ugly numbers this year with a 5.21 ERA and a 1.579 WHIP for the last place Oakland Athletics. However, it should be noted that his velocity is still there and he still has the same bite on his curveball. A new voice and a pennant race could rejuvenate him. It should also be noted in the postseason, Axford has a 1.42 ERA, 1.026 WHIP, and a 12.8 K/9.
Brad Hand – Like many relievers, Hand has seemingly figured things out in San Diego after having mostly struggled in his first five years with the Marlins. He has a 2.94 ERA and a 1.269 WHIP this seasn as opposed to the 4.71 ERA and 1.424 WHIP he had with the Marlins. Part of the reason for his success is the increased use of his slider which is a pitch that has generated a high percentage of swings and misses. Hand does profile as the type of pitcher Dan Warthen has had success with during his tenure with the Mets.
Ryan Buchter – The 29 year old career minor leaguer and Sewell, New Jersey native has taken full advantage of his first real shot in the majors with a 2.41 ERA, a 1.098 WHIP, and a 12.5 K/9 in 44 appearances. Like what Antonio Bastardo was supposed to be, he is a cross-over lefty. Like his teammate Hand, he relies upon his fastball and slider to get outs. However, unlike Hand, he throws it with greater velocity with a 94 MPH fastball and an 87 MPH slider to go with it. Again, he is the type of pitcher that typically does well under Dan Warthen’s tutelage.
Chris Withrow – In his first season post-Tommy John, Withrow has a 3.38 ERA and a 1.313 WHIP in 33 appearances for the woeful Atlanta Braves. He is a Mets kind of pitcher as he is a power pitcher out the bullpen that has a mid-nineties fastball and a high-eighties slider. He may not come cheap as he is under team control until 2020, and the Braves consider him their future closer.
Tyler Clippard – The main thing that will prevent Clippard from becoming a Met is his contract. He is in the first year of a two year $12.25 million deal that will pay him $6.15 million next season. Further diminishing the chances of a reunion is the fact that Clippard is having a career worst season with a 3.53 ERA and a 1.234 WHIP. Like with Axford, the much cheaper option, the Mets would be hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. As with Jose Reyes, the Mets would be hoping he is energized by putting on a Mets uniform again.
Huston Street – Perhaps due to his early season oblique injury, Street has lost a tick or two off his fastball. The end result is Street having a career worst season with a 5.03 ERA and a 1.932 WHIP in 23 appearances. The hope with him is Dan Warthen can have a similar effect on him as he has had on Addison Reed, who is having a tremendous year without a mid to high 90s fastball. One major obstacle for Street is his contract. He is due to make $9 million next year with a $10 million option and a $1 million buyout for 2018.
Joe Smith – Strangely enough, Smith might be the player who has played the best out of all the players in the ill-fated J.J. Putz trade. Since leaving the Mets, Smith steadily improved, and eventually became a top shelf reliever who has been effective against both righties and lefties. This season, he has struggled a bit with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.396 WHIP in 33 appearances. Like his teammate Street, his velocity is down by a hair this year. The side-armed righty will be a free agent this season.
David Robertson – The former Yankee has shown he can pitch well in a pennant race in New York. Since leaving the Yankees, Robertson has been a very good closer, but he has not been as dominant as he was with the Yankees. His early career walk troubles have re-emerged this year as he is walking 5.0 batters per nine innings. On the season, he has 23 saves in 26 chances with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.447 WHIP. Aside from one disastrous appearance in Game Three of the 2003 ALCS against Texas, he has only allowed two earned runs in 16.2 postseason innings while striking out 16 batters. He is still not a realistic option as he has two years and $25 million remaining on his contract.
Adding one or more of these players should improve the Mets bullpen. Regardless of whether or not the team adds one of these pitchers, or somebody else all together, they need Familia, Reed, Blevins, and Robles to continue pitching well out of the pen. They also need Bastardo to figure things out sooner rather than later as his struggles is probably why the Mets are in the hunt for another bullpen arm.
