Here’s a quick update on the top relievers still available on the free agent market. In no particular order here you go:
LHP Jerry Blevins – The Los Angeles Dodgers may be closing in on the former Met according to the most recent reports. Blevins was as steady as they come in 2016, pitching to a 2.79 ERA over 73 appearances. The southpaw accumulated 42 innings while pitching to a WHIP of 1.21. He had success against both right-handed and left-handed hitters, while at times just being used against lefties. The 33 year-old is searching for a three year deal this offseason but it’s likely he settles for a two year or even a one year deal as spring training nears.
LHP Craig Breslow – According to Peter Gammons of MLB Network, 13-16 attended his showcase on Monday including the Mets. Gammons said Breslow is working with a new arm angle that is creating better movement than he displayed in 2016 which was a gruesome year statistically for the veteran lefty. From 2014 to 2016, Breslow has gone 2-10 with a 4.93 ERA (5.16 FIP), striking out 90 batters in 133.1 innings.
RHP Greg Holland – Holland is looking to latch on as a closer somewhere and he’s getting close to signing with a new team, possibly even the Washington Nationals who have been strongly connected to him. In 2013 and 2014, Holland was one of the most dominant closers in the game, saving 93 games and pitching to a 1.32 ERA. In 129.1 innings he struck out 193 batters and pitched to an 0.889 WHIP. When his average fastball velocity took a downward turn in 2015, from over 96 MPH to 93.6 MPH, it was discovered that he had actually torn his ulnar collateral ligament late in the 2014 season, and it surely affected his performance. It will be 17 months since his surgery when 2017 spring training arrives.
RHP Sergio Romo – Since 2008, Romo has been one of the most consistent relievers in the game for the San Francisco Giants. He sports a career 2.58 ERA and 2.71 FIP to go with a 0.8 HR/9, 1.8 BB/9, and 10.2 K/9. He has plenty of closing experience, having saved 84 games in his career. There has been very little chatter on the market for Romo to this point.
RHP Joe Blanton – Could be one of those relievers that accepts a one-year deal which might make him attractive to the Mets, however the Dodgers are also connected to him. Since moving to the bullpen full-time in 2015, Blanton has been very effective. In 2016, he went 7-2 with a 2.48 ERA (3.33 FIP) with a 1.013 WHIP. Both the Dodgers and Rockies have shown interest in the right-hander.
RHP Joe Smith – Since 2009, this former Met has been one of the most reliable relievers in the game, appearing in 503 games (7th among Major League relievers), with a 2.80 ERA, 146 holds (5th), 1.151 WHIP, and 203 runners stranded (6th). Smith’s best overall season came in 2014 as a member of the Angels, where he posted a career best 1.81 ERA, tied his career high in wins with seven, pitched a career high 74.2 innings, had a career high 68 strikeouts, and posted his best WHIP at 0.804 (6th in the majors). Another reliever for who’s market has been extremely quiet.
RHP Fernando Salas – He is still drawing interest from six unnamed teams, sources tell Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. The 31 year-old had a Reed-like impact on the Mets after he was acquired from the Angels on August 31. In 17 appearances, he was 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA, a 0.635 WHIP, and a 9.9 K/9. Salas completely took over the seventh inning role, and he allowed both Reed and Familia some rest down the stretch. He could continue to be an effective weapon for the Mets going forward if they were to bring him back.
LHP Travis Wood – The Cubs remain interested in bringing back the lefty after missing out on Tyson Ross. Once a full time starter, Wood was an important cog in the Cubs’ bullpen during their World Series run. He was extremely effective against lefties in 2016, holding them to a .128/.208/.239 slash line. Overall, he went 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA. He has also been used as a pinch hitter, as he has nine career home runs.
RHP Matt Belisle – Here’s another bullpen arm that’s possibly looking at a one year deal. The 36-year old reliever had a good 2016 season with the Washington Nationals. In 46 innings he had a 1.76 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a strong 4.57 K/BB ratio. Given his age and the fact that only received a minor league deal last year I would expect his price range to be a perfect for the Mets.
RHP David Hernandez – The 31-year old pitched a ton for the Phillies last season with 72.2 innings over 70 appearances in which he finished 16 games. He did strike out 80 batters in 2016, but also allowed 77 hits and 11 home runs. The good news is that he still throws hard (averaged 95 MPH on his fastball) and opponents had only a .576 OPS off his breaking ball last season.
LHP Boone Logan – He had great season with the Rockies with a ERA of 3.69 in 66 games. He struck out 57 batters in 46.1 innings while pitching to an impressive WHIP of 1.01. Logan was even better vs lefties in 2016, holding to them a lowly .142/.222/.252 slash line. It was reported very early in the offseason that the Mets were showing interest in the former Yankee.
LHP Javier Lopez – The overall numbers for his 2016 aren’t that appealing (4.50 ERA, 1.46 WHIP), but he was much better against left-handed hitters to which he to a .622 OPS. Lopez is the perfect definition of a LOOGY, he rarely pitches to more than a couple of batters and has held lefties to a .202/.283/.289 slash line in his career. He could be a good low cost back-up option to Blevins and Logan for the Mets.
Final Thoughts
Is it possible that the Mets forego signing any reliever to a major league deal this offseason? It’s quite possible, especially if you take what Sandy Alderson had to say on the matter to heart. Last Friday during a luncheon at Citi Field, Alderson told beat reporters:
“If you go back and look at our history, we haven’t exactly come up cherries on signing free agent relievers and I think that has a lot to do with the volatility they represent. The fact is, once you commit to someone that eliminates and detracts from the flexibility we currently have right now and I think we have flexibility with quality.” (Matt Ehalt, NJ.com)
This could just be GM-speak, or it’s quite possible that Sandy Alderson has a lot of confidence – as do I – in the plethora of internal options that the team is flush with. In addition to battle-tested pitchers like Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo, Josh Smoker and potentially Zack Wheeler, the Mets also have Paul Sewald waiting in the wings at Las Vegas. Oft-forgotten left-hander Josh Edgin is also still in the mix.
One more name that could make an impact this Spring as he looks to make the Opening Day roster, is right-hander Ben Rowen, who the Mets signed to a minor league deal last month. To say that the front office is really buzzing over him would be an understatement.
