According to Newsday’s Marc Carig on Monday, the Mets view veteran right-hander Tommy Hunter as a prime relief target. In November, MLB Trade Rumors predicted that Hunter’s contract would likely fall in the two years, $12 million range.
Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports echoed the report later in the day.
After signing a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays in February, Hunter proved to be a consistently reliable arm in the back end of Kevin Cash‘s bullpen, posting a 2.61 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 14 walks in 58.2 innings. He was particularly effective against left-handed batters, who managed to hit only .170 with five extra-base hits against the 31-year-old.
It’s fair to label Hunter as a journeyman, as his career has taken him from Texas to Baltimore (in the infamous Chris Davis trade), with a stop in Cleveland and a return to the Orioles as well. After beginning his career as a starter, it wasn’t until he became a full-time reliever in 2013 that Hunter began to find success.
It should also be noted that Hunter, in his ninth full major league season, added anywhere from one to three miles per hour to his various fastballs, according to Brooks Baseball. His 97 mph four-seam fastball is particularly impressive, considering Brooks measured the pitch at an average of 93 mph in 2012.
It had been reported earlier in the day that the Mets had been kicking the tires on multiple late-inning options, including the Rays’ Alex Colome and free agent Bryan Shaw, who the Mets have been heavily linked to in recent weeks. It would make a great deal of sense to place Hunter at the top of this list, considering his steady success in late-inning situations.
