MMO will be looking at multiple bargain options that are still available for the Mets this offseason. With Sandy Alderson reportedly working with a limited budget, the Mets best chance to fill holes will be bargain hunting.
Southpaw Fernando Abad has spent a fair share of time around the league since debuting with the Houston Astros in 2010.
After spending three seasons there, he made stops in Washington, Oakland and finally Boston, where he has spent the last two years.
Now 32-years-old, Abad has never been a household name, but has some decent seasons under his belt, including this past year where he tossed 43.2 innings and registered a 3.30 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 1.237 WHIP and 7.6 K/9 across 48 games.
Abad’s best season, perhaps, came with Oakland back in 2014 where he logged a 1.57 ERA out of the A’s bullpen over 69 games.
In 2017, he held left-handed hitters to a .227/.288/.348 slash line (73 batters faced). For his career, that number is .237/.287/.383 over 573 plate appearances.
While an Addison Reed reunion would make the Mets bullpen extremely formidable, I just don’t think it happens, especially as the team looks to find players to fill holes around the infield, outfield and maybe even catcher.
However, Abad would be an interesting arm to bring in and would give New York another left-handed arm in their bullpen to complement Jerry Blevins.
At the end of the day, I believe that the Mets still have to add at least one more arm into the fold to round out the bullpen. Abad would be a low-risk guy who could yield some positive results.
Plus, if they brought him in and were able to spend what remaining funds they have elsewhere, they could kill two birds with one stone. Relievers vary so much year to year anyway, you might catch lightning in a bottle. If not, you didn’t dole out a huge contract.
Either way, Abad would be a nice southpaw to have as a middle reliever/LOOGY, giving Blevins more leverage to pitch as a back-end type guy along with AJ Ramos and Jeurys Familia.
