Tanner Roark

Position: SP

Bats/Throws: R/R

Age: October 5, 1986 (33)

Traditional Stats: 10-10, 4.35 ERA, 1.397 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9, 8.6 K/9

Advanced Stats: 2.0 bWAR, 2.0 fWAR, 94 ERA+, 4.67 FIP

Tanner Roark was drafted in the 25th round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft by the Texas Rangers. Two years later, Roark was traded to the Washington Nations, eventually making his MLB debut in 2013.

Roark started his big league career pitching out of the bullpen, making nine relief appearances, before moving into the rotation for five starts in September. The right-hander pitched to a 7-1 record, with a 1.51 ERA across 53 2/3 innings pitched.

In 2014, Roark had his first full season out of the Nationals rotation and pitched to plenty of success. Roark made 31 starts, pitching to a 2.85 ERA across 198 2/3 innings pitched. Washington moved Roark out of the rotation in 2015, limiting him to 12 spot starts across 40 appearances. Roark did not take to the role change well, finishing the year with a 4.38 ERA.

Roark was then inserted back into the rotation in 2016 and went on to have the best year of his career. Making a career-high 33 starts, Roark eclipsed 200 innings and pitched to a 2.83 ERA. He finished the year in the top-10 of the Cy Young voting in the NL.

Over the next two years, Roark failed to find the same level of success again, posting an ERA over 4.00 in each season. All told, Roark spent six years with the Nationals and pitched to a 3.59 ERA. In the offseason, the Nationals traded Roark to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for reliever Tanner Rainey.

This season, Roark made 21 starts with the Reds and pitched to a 4.24 ERA, striking out 108 batters in 110 1/3 innings pitched. The Oakland Athletics traded for Roark at the deadline, to try to bolster their rotation for the stretch run. Roark made 10 starts for Oakland down the stretch and pitched to a 4.58 ERA.

Entering free agency for the first time at 33 years old, Roark’s greatest ability is his availability, as the veteran has been one of the most durable starting pitchers in baseball.

Contract

In his final year of arbitration, Tanner Roark made $10 million in 2019. That base salary is about the most you would expect him to make in free agency, as his 4.35 ERA does not put him near the top tier of starting pitchers on the free agent market.

Last year, Lance Lynn signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Texas Rangers after posting 4.77 ERA in his age-31 season in 2018. Mike Fiers signed a two-year deal worth just over $14 million with the Oakland Athletics, coming off a year where he pitched to a 3.56 ERA at 34 years old. Those are just a few comps that make sense when trying to predict Roark’s market this offseason.

Roark will likely be able to make more money annually the shorter his new deal is. Another one-year, $10 million contract is potentially still within reach. If Roark wants the stability of a multi-year contract, an incentive-laden deal with a $5-7 million base would make sense.

Recommendation

The New York Mets are going to need to find a fifth starter in free agency and Tanner Roark might not be a bad option. His familiarity within the division is a plus and his durability should be very enticing for the Mets.

As is always the case in free agency, it comes down to the price. But if the price drops enough for Roark, adding him could allow New York to spend a majority of their offseason budget addressing their bullpen.

If the Mets could sign Roark to a one-year, incentive-laden deal with a $5 million base, that would be a wise investment to make.

By: Ryan Finkelstein