Position: SP/RP
Bats/Throws: L/L
Age: 2/2/1991 (30)
Traditional Stats: 15 GS, 3-8, 3.89 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 67 K, 78 IP
Advanced Stats: 4.10 FIP, 1.4 WAR, 109 ERA+, 6.8 BB%
Rundown
Matthew Boyd was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth round of the 2013 Amateur Draft out of Oregon State University. He made eight appearances, five starts, in his first year in the organization and pitched to a solid 2.62 ERA.
Boyd was called up to make his big league debut during the 2015 season. He suffered his first career loss after allowing four runs over 6 innings. He did strike out seven batters, which was a Blue Jays record for strikeouts in a debut.
The young southpaw made one more appearance for the Blue Jays that season. He was shipped off to the Tigers at the trading deadline as part of a package in exchange for David Price.
Boyd went on to make 11 appearances that season, and pitched to a 6.57 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and struck out 36 batters. He bounced back and forth between the minors and big leagues the next season, but made a total of 18 starts for the Tigers during that campaign.
Boyd then became a mainstay in the Tigers’ rotation over the next few years. He made a combined 56 starts in 2017 and 2018, and pitched to a 4.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and struck out 269 batters.
Boyd’s breakout season came during the 2019 campaign, in which he struck out a career-high 238 batters over 185 innings pitched (11.6 K/9). He had some struggles with the long ball that season, allowing a league-leading 39 homers.
However, his walk rate, strikeout rate, whiff percentage, and xBA all ranked in the 75th percentile or better for the campaign. Boyd struggled during the pandemic shortened season, posting a 6.71 ERA and leading the league with 45 earned runs and 15 home runs allowed.
Boyd began last season again at the top of the Tigers’ rotation, receiving the Opening Day nod for the second consecutive season. He pitched well when healthy, posting a 3.89 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 67 strikeouts, but made just 15 starts.
Boyd landed on the injury list in June due to a triceps strain. He returned to make two starts, before he was shut down with a forearm issue, and after seeking a second opinion was forced to undergo flexor tendon surgery.
Boyd won’t be ready for Opening Day, and likely won’t return to the mound until around June or July.
Boyd feels like a perfect change-of-scenery type of arm. He throws a solid five-pitch mix featuring a fastball, changeup, slider, curveball, and sinker. If he can get healthy with no setbacks, Boyd is a solid addition to any rotation.
Contract
Due to his injury uncertainty, the Tigers non-tendered Boyd a contract this offseason.
Boyd was entering his final season of arbitration eligibility but is instead now a free agent for the first time in his career. He will now likely have to settle for a one-year prove-it deal with some incentives worked in as he works his way back.
Even with the question mark, the talented left-hander figures to have plenty of suitors in free agency. MLB Trade Rumors projected him to receive a $7.3 million deal in arbitration this offseason.
Boyd is represented by Scott Boras, who the Mets of course have already worked with this offseason on the deal with Max Scherzer.
Recommendation
One of the New York Mets biggest needs this offseason was to address the starting rotation. So far, they’ve lost both Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman, and added one big fish in Max Scherzer.
The addition of Scherzer gives them easily the best duo in the game with him and Jacob deGrom. Behind them, Taijuan Walker and Carlos Carrasco figure to make up the next two spots in the rotation.
After that, the Met are still looking to add at least one or two more arms to the mix. General manager Billy Eppler certainly made it seem like he isn’t done addressing the starting rotation and its depth this offseason.
Even with the injury keeping him out for a decent amount of time, Boyd is one of the more intriguing arms remaining on the free-agent market. He is definitely a guy I’d like to see Billy Eppler and company take a look at.
Boyd is a potential low-cost, high-reward opportunity the Mets should take full advantage of. Even if he misses half of the season, Boyd could provide a much-needed shot in the arm to this rotation in the second half for very little money.
Not too long ago, Boyd flashed top of the rotation potential with the Tigers. He offers high strikeout upside (22.5 K%) and has limited the walks pretty well (7.4 BB%) throughout his career.
The only real blemish in his game has been the long ball. To this point in his career, Boyd has allowed an average of 1.6 HR/9 innings. While it was in a small sample size, Boyd was able to cut that figure down to 1.0 HR/9 this past season.
He was also relatively durable prior to last season, having made a total of 88 starts from 2017-2019.
Boyd is a quality left-hander who would be a very welcomed addition to any big league rotation. As we saw last season with this Mets team, there’s no such thing as too much pitching. Boyd is definitely one of the cheap depth options the Mets should consider once the lockout is over.
