The New York Mets have been very active this week when it comes to adding free agents to their player pool ahead of the upcoming season. Since the initial list of 45 players were announced on Sunday, six free agent signings have been made.

Ryan Cordell and Erasmo Ramirez returned to the team after playing for the Mets in spring training, while free agents Melky Cabrera, Gordon Beckham, Hunter Strickland and the Jarred Hughes were all added into the fold as well. Now the player pool sits at 51, with nine spots remaining for the Mets to fill.

Although New York may keep some flexibility by not filling their roster to capacity before the start of the season, there are still some interesting names available on the market. Here are five free agents the Mets could still look to add to their player pool.

5. Aaron Sanchez

Marcus Stroman‘s former teammate had a great start to his career pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays. As a rookie in 2014, Sanchez pitched to a patently absurd 351 ERA+, allowing just four runs across 33 innings pitched out of Toronto’s bullpen. The following season, Sanchez split his time between the bullpen and the rotation and pitched to a 3.22 ERA.

In 2016, Sanchez was an All-Star, pitching to a 15-2 record. His 3.00 ERA was the best mark in the AL and he finished seventh in the Cy Young voting. . Since that season, Sanchez has been plagued with injuries and inconsistency. Last year, Sanchez was traded to the Houston Astros at the deadline.

In his first start with Houston, Sanchez pitched six no-hit innings as part of a combined no-hitter. Unfortunately a torn capsule in his shoulder ended his season prematurely after just four starts with the Astros. While it is unclear how his shoulder has healed, there is enough upside for the Mets to take a flier on the 28-year-old.

4. Andrew Cashner

Due to the injury to Noah Syndergaard, the Mets are going into this season without much depth in their starting rotation. Outside of their set five starters, the Mets will be relying on unproven starting pitchers like Walker Lockett and Corey Oswalt, or prospects David Peterson and Kevin Smith.

Andrew Cashner is a veteran starting pitcher that could be added to the mix as an insurance policy in case any of the Mets starters gets hurt or tests positive for COVID. Cashner has made 188 starts across his 10-year career and has pitched to a respectable 4.10 ERA.

Last season, Cashner pitched to a 3.83 ERA across 17 starts with the Baltimore Orioles. He was then traded midseason to the Boston Red Sox, where he struggled mightily. Cashner pitched to a 6.20 ERA for Boston, although he primarily pitched out of the bullpen.

3. Rajai Davis

Rajai Davis spent a majority of the 2019 season playing for the Syracuse Mets, although he did appear in 29 games for the big league club. The highlight of Davis’ season was a pinch-hit three-run homer that he crushed to cap off a late victory for the Mets in May. That home run famously came after Davis was promoted so late in the afternoon that he had to take an Uber from Allentown, Pennsylvania to Citi Field.

Despite being 39 years old, Davis is still athletic enough to play center field and help give the Mets some speed off the bases. He was set to play for Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League this year, but the league just officially cancelled their season. With his flair for the dramatic, it is not hard to envision Davis coming up clutch at some point this season if signed to the player pool.

2. Arodys Vizcaino

Mets fans may know the name Arodys Vizcaino well, as he has been a remarkablly effective reliever for the Atlanta Braves throughout his career. Vizcaino has pitched to a 3.01 career ERA across his 206 appearances at the big league level. Shoulder problems have plagued the hard-throwing righty over the past few years, with last season being the greatest example.

Vizcaino pitched in just four games for the Braves in 2019, before being placed on the IL. His season ultimately ended when he underwent surgery on his right labrum on April 17, 2019.

Now that he is more than a year removed from the shoulder surgery, Vizcanio is definitely worth taking a flier on. Shoulder surgeries are very hard for a pitcher to come back from, but it is too early to count out the 29-year-old reliever.

1. Russell Martin

 

Considering all of the circumstances, it would make a lot of sense for Russell Martin to either sit out this season or retire altogether. He has had an outstanding 14-year career, being named to four All-Star teams, with a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger on his mantle.

Still, the 37-year-old catcher has yet to formally announce his retirement, leaving the door open for his return. Martin has also never won the World Series, so taking one more stab at a championship may be intriguing for the veteran ballplayer.

Last year, Martin played 83 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers and hit .220/.337/.330 with six home runs and 20 RBIs. Martin still grades out as an above-average defensive catcher and could be considered an upgrade as a backup catcher over the incumbent Tomas Nido. If Martin is willing to sign, the Mets should make room for him.

Honorable Mentions

When writing an article about the potential free agent options for the Mets, it would be a shame not to mention some of the more fun pitchers that could make a return to Queens.

There is of course the contingent that would love to see the Return of the Dark Knight, as Matt Harvey remains on the market. Also as we pine for the past glory of the 2015 Mets, Bartolo Colon has once again expressed interest in returning to the MLB (with a preference of playing for the Mets).

Finally, the least popular (but maybe most practical) signing would be the return of everyone’s favorite…Jason Vargas!

Unlike the other two honorable mentions, Vargas actually made some quality starts in 2019 and might be able to help bring the Mets some much-needed rotation depth. At the same time, who really wants to see those 83 mph fastballs again?