The market for relievers is starting to heat up. Will Smith, Chris Martin, Darren O’Day, and Drew Pomeranz are already signed, and Dellin Betances is drawing interest from the Phillies. For the Mets to upgrade their bullpen, they need to move quickly before the remaining good options are taken.
Currently, Will Harris and Daniel Hudson are two of the top relievers left. Harris posted a 1.50 ERA with a 0.933 WHIP in 2019, while Hudson had a 2.47 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 73 innings pitched. MLB Trade Rumors projected that Harris will get a two year, $18M deal, while Hudson is projected to receive a two year, $12M contract.
But these projections were made before Pomeranz landed a four year, $34M contract with the Padres on Saturday. The size of Pomeranz’s contract surprised many, and it could show that the price for relievers is going up – or that San Diego’s notoriously aggressive GM, A.J. Preller, overspent and misplayed the market.
Hopefully, the latter is true for the Mets sake. They are already close to reaching the luxury tax threshold without even making a move, and they desperately need bullpen help.
In 2019, the Mets’ bullpen ranked 25th in the MLB in ERA, and they saw their best options heading into the year – Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia – fall apart. Diaz struggled immensely with a 5.59 ERA, and Familia was no better with a 5.70 ERA and an unsightly 1.73 WHIP.
Out of all the Mets’ relievers, Seth Lugo remains the only trustworthy option. Lugo recorded a 2.70 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched last season. He also posted a 0.90 WHIP, and an outstanding 6.50 K/BB ratio.
Aside from Harris and Hudson, there are a few solid options, but not many. The Mets could look at Steve Cishek, a 33-year-old reliever with a career 2.69 ERA. He recorded a 2.95 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP last season with the Cubs, though his 4.54 FIP suggest that he could be in line for some regression in 2020.
Another option could be the Padres’ Craig Stammen. The 35-year-old reliever had a 3.29 ERA in 82 innings in 2019, and he is just one year removed from holding an excellent 2.73 ERA and 2.19 FIP.
The Mets could also think outside the box and look at trade candidates like Oakland’s Blake Treinen, or as Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic suggested Sunday night, Josh Hader from the Brewers. Rosenthal observes that Hader could be a fit given that GM Brodie Van Wagenen was previously his agent.
Regardless of what route the Mets take, they need aggressively pursue their options because they can’t head into 2020 with the same bullpen that hurt them so badly this year. Whether it’s taking a chances on high upside – but injury prone – relievers like Betances and Arodys Vizcaino, or adding dependable veterans like Harris, Hudson, or Stammen, the Mets must make significant changes to their bullpen. And if they don’t act quickly, these options could dwindle down very soon.
