Good morning, Mets fans, and welcome back to another rumor roundup! While few signings took place over the Thanksgiving weekend, there have still been a series of interesting developments on the free agent market surrounding some of the game’s more prominent outfielders and pitchers.

Astros Interested in Handful of Free Agent Outfielders

While left fielder and elite prospect Kyle Tucker (MLB Pipeline‘s fifth-best prospect among top 100) is expected to assume a significant long-term role in the Houston Astros’ lineup alongside All-Star George Springer, the 2019 outfield may feature a reinforcement or two. In a recent subscription piece for ESPN, Buster Olney cites Michael Brantley, A.J. Pollock, and Andrew McCutchen as three outfielders who have each drawn interest from Houston in the recent days.

In 143 games (his highest total since 2014), the 31-year old Brantley hit .309/.364/.468 with 17 homers, 76 RBI, and a 3.8 oWAR out of the two-spot with the Cleveland Indians. The concern surrounding Brantley has always been his health, as his numbers themselves hold up well against his career .295/.351/.430 slash line. Prior to 2018, Brantley had combined for just 101 games from 2016-2017 due to shoulder and ankle injuries.

Like Brantley, Pollock has had his share of troubles staying on the field, with the most recent culprit being a thumb avulsion fracture that cost him two months. While Olney believes Pollock may bring in the highest salary of the three when the offseason comes to a close, the fact remains that Pollock has cracked 130 games in a season just twice in his seven-year career. Having made just 113 appearances in 2018, 112 the year prior, and 13 in 2016, the 30-year old (going on 31 this week) has nonetheless produced, hitting 37 homers, driving in 118, stealing 37 bases, and slashing .261/.323/.473. His best season came in a 157-game campaign in 2015, where he posted a 5.9 oWAR and 1.8 dWAR that since have yet to be met even halfway.

The only outfielder of the three to net an MVP award, McCutchen, while still healthy, has failed to replicate his successes from his center field days with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After compiling a 45 bWAR between 2009-2015, McCutchen has since mustered a meager 4.6, largely offset by a -4.2 dWAR between center and right. McCutchen did put together a .792 OPS, but saw lows in homers (20) and RBI (65) that he last hit in 2010 – his first full year in the league. At 32 years of age, McCutchen is by no means cooked, though he isn’t likely the first choice for any team looking for an impact hitter in their outfield – much less one who can field.

Phillies, Cardinals, Also Looking at Miller

Jon Morosi of MLB Network recently reported the Mets’ involvement with left-handed reliever Andrew Miller, though it should be noted that the Mets will have to get through both the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals in order to sign him, as both teams have also expressed interest. Miller, 33, struggled with a shoulder impingement through the bulk of the 2018 season, posting an underwhelming 4.24 ERA while averaging 4.2 BB/9 in 37 appearances – leaving him with his worst bWAR (0.2) since 2011 with the Boston Red Sox.

Granted, it would be unfair to neglect his prior six years of dominance as a setup man in the American League, where he averaged baseball’s seventh-best fWAR (11.0), sixth-highest K/9 (13.93), and second-lowest xFIP (2.24). Considering he held opposing hitters to a .661 OPS upon returning from the disabled list and walked just six hitters in those last 19.2 innings, Miller, when healthy, would certainly strengthen either bullpen. St. Louis relievers had baseball’s second-highest walk-rate (4.34 per nine innings) and fourth-highest hard-hit rate against left-handed hitters (39.4%), while Philadelphia had pronounced struggles finishing the job, as the relievers allowed the third-most earned runs from the eighth inning on (145) and struggling with the sixth-highest FIP in high leverage situations (4.73).

Angels Exploring Starters

Also reported by Morosi yesterday, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are “active in the market” for free agent starters J.A. Happ and Nathan Eovaldi. Morosi admits it is unclear whether or not the Angels have a strong chance to sign either arm, but the news nonetheless indicates an organizational intent on winning by building around its current group.

Happ, 36, has gone 58-29 with a 3.48 ERA in nearly 700 innings dating back to 2015, yielding just 2.6 BB/9 while silently emerging as one of the game’s most consistent, reliable veterans. While Morosi had previously linked him to the Angels among a list of five other interested teams, it may be of note that the Angels remain involved. In 2018, Happ went 17-6, averaging a career-best 9.8 K/9 while going 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in his final 11 starts as a member of the New York Yankees – who are also in hot pursuit of the lefty.

As for Eovaldi, the Angels are looking at a flexible postseason hero who, when healthy, has demonstrated excellent command – averaging a 3.03 K/BB ratio that climbed to 5.05 between the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox this past year. At 28 years of age, Eovaldi returned from a Tommy John surgery that cost him his 2017 season by posting a 3.80/3.61/3.67 ERA/FIP/xFIP while averaging the third-hottest fastball (97.5 mph) and second-fastest cutter (93 mph) among major-league starters. Adding Eovaldi to a rotation that is currently looking to survive without both Garrett Richards and Shohei Ohtani (torn UCLs) next season would be a nice win for Los Angeles, and would no doubt serve its benefits once everyone is healthy.