In a recent article by Mike Puma of the NY Post, he outlines the case against Addison Reed in the set up role. While Reed has saved over 100 games in his career, Puma points out that his reliability and consistency are legitimate concerns.
Reed posted a 4.20 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 40.2 innings before being traded to the Mets last summer. He also struggled in the postseason where he allowed five runs in seven innings, despite having a strong finish in the regular season in New York.
Puma asked a talent evaluator about what he thought about Reed in the setup role, and said the Mets should not be content with him.
“Definitely no,” the evaluator said.
“He throws too flat a breaking ball, throws hard but straight. He needs a splitter — not a changeup. You can tell he’s not confident against lefties. Plus, he’s tight in late-and-close situations.”
However, another evaluator had a much more promising outlook:
“With a little tweaking, I think he can be highly effective again,” the evaluator said.
Reed, 27, has a career 4.01 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 3.41 FIP in five major league seasons. I have to agree more with the second analyst, who said he can get back to performing at a high level like he did a few years ago as closer for Chicago and Arizona.
Reed showed flashes of this potential down the stretch in the second half as he allowed only two runs in fifteen innings with the Mets. His 2.74 FIP and 10 K/9 in this span are also good signs, and suggest he’s headed in the right direction.
But even with these improved numbers, the Mets could still benefit from adding a reliever like Antonio Bastardo to the mix. Bastardo had a 2.98 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 66 appearances last season, and Puma says that he’s unlikely to sign with Mets unless he’s willing to accept a one year deal. However, getting Bastardo would surely deepen the entire bullpen, and provide insurance just in case Reed doesn’t live up to the team’s expectations.
