Michael Fulmer
Player Data: Age: 29 (3/15/93)
B/T: R/R
Traditional Stats: 67 G, 63.2 IP, 5-6, 3.39 ERA, 1.366 WHIP, 61 SO, 28 BB
Advanced Stats: 113 ERA+, 22.1 K%, 10.1 BB%, 3.78 xERA, 3.57 FIP, 0.8 bWAR, 0.7 fWAR
Rundown
As the Mets plug any remaining holes this offseason, New York could look to a former farmhand to bolster its bullpen.
Michael Fulmer, who has spent most of his career with the Detroit Tigers, was traded by the Mets as the centerpiece of the deal that brought Yoenis Céspedes to Flushing back in 2015.
After dealing with various injuries throughout his career, Fulmer has rebounded to become a reliable arm out of the bullpen, a bit of a different trajectory for a former starter that was named the American League’s Rookie of the Year in 2016, as well as an All-Star in both 2016 and 2017.
Fulmer made 24 starts in 2018, but his ERA ballooned up to 4.69. He ended up undergoing Tommy John surgery that offseason, which forced him to miss the entirety of 2019. Returning as a starter during a COVID-shortened 2020 season, Fulmer made 10 starts and pitched to an 8.08 ERA.
A move to the bullpen would change the trajectory of a once-promising career. Fulmer pitched to a 2.97 ERA during the 2021 season with 73 strikeouts in 69.2 innings pitched. While Fulmer did make four starts in 52 appearances, he also saved a career-high 14 games. He became an invaluable member of Detroit’s bullpen and positioned himself to be one of the AL Central’s better relievers.
This past season, spending time between the Tigers and the Minnesota Twins, Fulmer turned in a 3.39 ERA and 61 strikeouts over 63.2 innings pitched. Fulmer had a barrel rate (4.4%) that ranked in the 91st percentile among qualified pitchers, while he also had a whiff rate that ranked in the 71st percentile, per Baseball Savant.
Fulmer was traded for the second time in his career; this time around for minor leaguer RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long. While he overall had good numbers, that was more of a reflection of the success he had in Detroit, rather than in Minnesota, as opposing hitters slashed .203/.308/.273 against him prior to when he was traded on Aug. 2, good for an OPS of .590. Following the trade, opposing hitters slashed .313/.374/.500 in 24.1 innings pitched in a Twins uniform, good for an OPS of .874.
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Contract
Fulmer’s market has yet to take off, but after signing a one-year, $4.95 million deal with Detroit last offseason, it’s reasonable to assume that he could be looking for a multi-year deal that would pay him upwards of $5 million.
Of course, money hasn’t seemed to stop Mets owner Steve Cohen before this offseason. So, if the front office decide to target another free agent reliever, Fulmer could come as a cost-effective option that could help New York in 2023 and beyond.
Recommendation
Despite signing star closer Edwin Díaz to a five-year, $102 million contract, veteran reliever David Robertson to a one-year, $10 million deal and re-signing Adam Ottavino to a two-year, $14.5 million deal, the Mets could still use another relief pitcher.
Whether the Mets want to continue to pour more money into the bullpen and whether that hinges on the Carlos Correa saga, remains to be seen. In any event, adding an arm like Fulmer would not only further bolster the Mets bullpen, but it would give manager Buck Showalter several dynamic late-innings options. A bullpen that includes Diaz, Robertson, Ottavino, Drew Smith and Brooks Raley, is almost certainly an upgrade over what New York trotted out in 2022. Bullpens can be tricky, though, and throwing money to strengthen a unit that took a lot of hits this offseason isn’t always the right solution.
In any event, Fulmer is more than a suitable option for a Mets team that continues to examine its roster flexibility.
