We saw it at the forefront this season. The Mets stripped down their team and traded their impending free agents for young arms.
New York’s bullpen was one of the team’s biggest weaknesses in 2017, but according to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Amazin’s biggest priority this offseason will be bolstering their relief corps.
Puma opines that while the Mets will likely steer clear of big arms such as Wade Davis and Greg Holland, there are still many quality arms the team can target to complement Jerry Blevins, AJ Ramos and Jeurys Familia for 2018.
Some names Puma highlights are Bryan Shaw, Brandon Morrow, Luke Gregerson, Matt Albers, Brandon Kintzler, Mike Minor and Addison Reed.
Shaw, 30, could be the most appealing name to the Mets and new skipper Mickey Callaway. The right-hander pitched five seasons under Callaway’s regime in Cleveland, where he registered a 21-22 record with a 3.11 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 1.188 WHIP and 8.4 K/9 in 358.2 innings pitched.
The 33-year-old Morrow was frequently used for the Dodgers in this year’s World Series — in all seven games in fact. He had a very strong year for Los Angeles, recording a 6-0 record with a 2.06 ERA in 45 games (43.2 innings).
Oppositely, Gregerson pitched for the champion Houston Astros in 2017. He logged a 2-3 record with a 4.57 ERA, 4.62 FIP, 1.344 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 in 65 games (61 innings) this year.
Albers, 35 next season, had a strong campaign with the rival Washington Nationals in 2017, pitching to a 7-2 record with a 1.62 ERA in 63 outings. He also had a 3.40 FIP, 0.852 WHIP and 9.3 K/9.
Puma mentions Brandon Kintzler as another name for the Mets to consider. The 33-year-old appeared in his first All-Star game in 2017 with the Minnesota Twins but was later traded to the Nats. Between the two teams, he had a 4-3 record with a 3.03 ERA in 72 games pitched.
Minor, 29, pitched for the first time since 2014 this season and had a splendid year for the Kansas City Royals. He went 6-6 out of the bullpen with a 2.55 ERA, 2.62 FIP and 1.017 WHIP in 66 appearances.
Lastly, who could forger about the contributions Addison Reed gifted the Mets in parts of three seasons with the Mets? In a bullpen that was in shambles in 2017, he rose like a Phoenix from the ashes and provided some stability for the team. After Jeurys Familia was sidelined for a majority of the season, Reed held it down and shut the door for the Mets night after night.
Bringing him back would do wonders to the backend of the bullpen, but if he is seeking a multi year contract, it doesn’t seem like the team will do it. General manager Sandy Alderson has a history of not doling out big deals to relievers. But with Reed, who has proven he can pitch in New York, it might be taken into consideration.
