The 2020 season was nothing short of a disaster for Mets’ southpaw Steven Matz.
The Long Island native appeared in nine games and got rocked to the tune of a 9.68 ERA in 30.2 innings pitched. However, the Mets decided to tender Matz a contract for the 2021 season, in what perhaps could be his last hoorah with the team.
It might pay off for the team, as Matz is buddies with new catcher James McCann. That comfort level could go a long way.
Matz and McCann both reside in Nashville, Tenn., and during quarantine, teamed up for some bullpen sessions together, along with Mets’ reliever Brad Brach and a group of other players.
“During the quarantine, he caught me twice a week,” Matz told the New York Post. “I threw six or seven bullpens to him.”
While it wasn’t quite a David Wright lobbying for Curtis Granderson or Michael Cuddyer situation, Matz said that he was keeping tabs on McCann’s free agency status the whole time.
“I was following [McCann’s free agency] all along, just hoping that we signed him because he’s such a great guy,” Matz said. “He’s such a hard worker.”
During Thursday’s introductory press conference, McCann talked about his relationship with Matz and Brach, saying he’s worked with the two pitchers over the last couple winters.
“I’ve actually been catching their bullpens for the last two or three offseasons,” McCann said. “So they’re guys I’ve already had a pretty good relationship with.”
