Despite already adding righty Trevor May to the mix, Sandy Alderson and company may not be done bolstering the Mets’ bullpen just yet.
According to Andy Martino of SNY, the team has shown interest in right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks.
Hendriks is easily the top reliever on the free agent market right now. In fact, since taking over as the Athletics closer during the 2019 season, he has been one of the best relief pitchers in baseball.
Over the past two seasons, Hendriks has recorded a combined 1.79 ERA, 1.70 FIP, 0.90 WHIP, and recorded 39 saves. Last season, he was so dominant he finished ninth in AL Cy Young voting and took home the AL Reliever of the Year award. During his incredible campaign, Hendriks blew just one save, posted a 1.78 ERA, and recorded 37 strikeouts in 24 appearances.
Hendriks relies on his fastball 71% of the time, but turns to his slider as a filthy swing and miss pitch. As MMO’s own Mathew Brownstein pointed out earlier in the offseason, Hendriks’ 52.0% whiff rate on his slider is the 7th-highest mark since 2018.
Sandy Alderson is certainly familiar with Hendriks from his days with the Athletics. If the righty is brought in, a back end of the bullpen consisting of May, Edwin Diaz, Seth Lugo, and Hendriks could be scary good, and potentially one of the very best units in baseball.
