Mets Have Interest in Zack Britton

The New York Mets reportedly have interest in relief pitcher Zack Britton, according to the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman.

Though the Mets could not come to terms with Carlos Correa after three weeks of negotiating, the Mets are still looking to round out the 2023 roster. Britton, 35, would be a high-risk, high-reward signing if the Mets gave him any sizable money.

That’s because Britton has had an injury-filled last two seasons–both with the Yankees. In 2021, Britton missed months after surgery that removed a bone chip from his elbow. Once he returned, he struggled, pitching to a 5.89 ERA (5.46 FIP) over 18.1 innings, but it turns out he needed Tommy John surgery. That caused him to miss most of 2022, returning at the end of the regular season. However, he did not perform well, struggling to throw a strike. He allowed six walks and a hit over three games, during which he only recorded two outs. He ended the year on the injured list with arm fatigue and didn’t pitch in the playoffs.

That risk could be mitigated with an incentive-laden deal. The upside is there, as he was one of the best relievers in all of baseball in the seven seasons prior to his injury. Part of those were spent in Baltimore with Buck Showalter as his manager. (Britton even says he doesn’t hold a grudge against Showalter for his non-use of Britton in the 2016 playoffs.)

From 2014 to 2020, the lefty had a minuscule 1.82 ERA (2.93 FIP) over 367.1 innings. There haven’t been any reported teams linked to Britton over the offseason, though Heyman said the Mets are “among teams” that have interest.

Read our free agent profile of Britton here.