Craig Stammen, Relief Pitcher

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Age: March 9, 1984 (35)

Traditional Stats: 3.29 ERA, 73 K, 15 BB, 1.16 WHIP over 76 appearances (82 innings)

Advanced Stats: 4.12 FIP, 3.85 xFIP, 8.01 K/9, 1.65 BB/9, 50.8% GB, 1.43 HR/9, 0.4 fWAR

Craig Stammen abandoned rotational duty during the 2010 season after pitching to a 5.08 ERA over 38 starts with the Nationals between 2009 — his rookie year — and 2010. Since settling into a relief role, the Ohio product has put together a fine career, exhibiting control and craftiness.

From 2011 through early 2015 — when he went down with forearm stiffness, eventually needing surgery which led to him being non-tendered by Washington that winter — Stammen pitched to a 2.80 ERA with 237 strikeouts, 84 walks, and 1.23 WHIP over 257 relief innings (175 appearances).

After missing all of 2016, Stammen landed in San Diego on a minor league deal. He made the Padres as a Spring Training invitee in 2017 and appeared in 60 games for the Friars (80.1 innings), pitching to a 3.14 ERA with 74 strikeouts and an uncharacteristically bloated 1.34 walks per nine.

The following season — after agreeing to a two-year, $4.5 million deal to stay with the Pads — Stammen shone. Over 73 games for San Diego in 2018, the then-34-year-old had a career year. In addition to his glowing 2.73 ERA (2.19 FIP) and 1.04 WHIP, his brief control issues subsided (0.34 BB/9), and he set a career-high in wins above replacement (2.2 fWAR) and strikeouts (88).

Stammen’s 2019 was solid (3.29 ERA, 73 strikeouts, 15 walks, 1.16 WHIP over 76 games; 82 innings), though not as spectacular as his prior campaign. Nevertheless, a 129 ERA+ — Stammen’s mark last season; well above-average — is nothing to shake a stick at.

Contract

Having just played out a $2.25 million AAV contract with the Padres, one has to assume a soon-to-be-36-year-old hurler won’t be receiving much of a raise and not much more than a one-year deal.

One year for $3 million would be an ideal number for any interested team, considering Stammen’s effectiveness over the last few years. Though, his consistency — numbers and health; he hasn’t hit the IL since that aforementioned forearm issue in 2015 — could end up being a strong selling point for his representation.

Recommendation

Craig Stammen is exactly the type of affordable, effective bullpen depth the New York Mets should be looking to add this offseason.

With limited funds at his expense, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen is assuredly looking for value in his free-agent additions this winter. A guy like Stammen checks those boxes.