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The Mets wrapped up a bevy of offseason moves on Tuesday with the press conference for Justin Verlander. But that doesn’t mean they’re done making moves to improve the team.
According to MMO‘s Mike Mayer, the Mets have contacted the Chicago White Sox about All-Star reliever Liam Hendriks. SNY‘s Andy Martino also mentioned the Sox are shopping Hendriks, and the Mets’ involvement is worth “keeping half an eye on.”
The Austrialian, who has been one of the best relievers in baseball the last half-decade, has one year left on a three-year deal he signed with the White Sox in 2021. He also has a $15 million club option for 2024, though that option automatically vests if he’s traded, according to Spotrac. He also has a five-team no-trade list for next season.
In Chicago, Hendriks has thrown 128.2 innings and notched 75 saves with a 2.66 ERA (2.49 FIP) and an absurd 0.870 WHIP. In the two season prior to switching teams, he had a 1.79 ERA in 110.1 innings with Oakland. So, if you’re keeping track, the soon-to-be-34-year-old has a 2.26 ERA and around a 40% strikeout rate over 239 innings over the last four seasons. He’s dominant.
Should the Mets acquire Hendriks, he’d join a top-heavy bullpen that features Edwin Diaz and David Robertson. He’d help solve worries about the bridge to Díaz, given the rest of the Mets bullpen will be a patchwork of Drew Smith, Brooks Raley, Robertson, and a slew of waiver wire pickups and arms on minor-league deals.
There has been no reporting about whom the Mets would involve in such a deal, though the Mets reportedly have been open to trading James McCann and Carlos Carrasco. During the Verlander press conference, general manager Billy Eppler said the Mets hope to announce more moves in the next few days. Keep your eyes and ears peeled.
