Zack Britton

Age: 34
B/T: L/L

2022 Traditional Stats: 3 G, 0-0, 0.2 IP, 13.50 ERA, 10.500 WHIP, 1 SO, 6 BB
2022 Advanced Stats: 46 ERA+, 27.11 FIP, 13.5 SO/9, 11.1 SO%, 66.7% BB, -0.1 WAR

Rundown

Zack Britton was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft. He made his Major League debut in 2011 and recorded a 4.61 ERA with 97 strikeouts in just over 154 innings. It took the lefty a few years to find his feet in the big leagues but, when he did, the results were hugely impressive.

From 2014 to 2020, Britton carved out a reputation for being one of the best relievers in all of baseball and he was untouchable at times. He posted a stellar 1.65 ERA in 2014 with 37 saves in 76 1/3 innings with 62 strikeouts. He then followed that up with a 1.92 ERA to go along with 36 saves and 79 strikeouts in 2015, earning his first-trip to the All-Star Game.

Britton’s best season to date came in 2016. He was pretty much invincible as he recorded a career-high 47 saves with an impressive 0.54 ERA. Britton also struck out 74 batters and walked just 18 on his way to becoming an All-Star for the second-straight year. He also finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting and 11th in AL MVP voting. The lefty was crowned both the 2016 AL Rivera Reliever of the Year, and the 2016 AL TSN Pitcher of the Year.

Following another solid year in 2017, Britton was traded to the New York Yankees in July 2018 for pitching prospects Dillon Tate, Josh Rogers and Cody Carroll. As he did in Baltimore, Britton dominated in The Big Apple as he finished the 2018 season with a 2.88 ERA in 25 games in the pinstripes, before posting a 1.91 ERA the following season. And Britton continued to produce the goods in 2020, recording eight saves and finishing the COVID-19 shortened season with a mighty-fine 1.89 ERA.

During his time with both the Orioles and the Yankees, Britton displayed time and time again that he had filthy stuff and could come up clutch in high-leverage situations. He absolutely dominated over a number of years and was a lethal weapon out of the bullpen. Relying on a deadly sinker and slider combo, Britton earned his reputation as one of the best and most reliable relievers in baseball in recent years.

However, things began to fall off a cliff for Britton after the 2020 season. He posted a bloated 5.89 ERA in 2021 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Britton did return in 2022 but struggled in three games with a 13.50 ERA before eventually being shut down for the year because of left arm fatigue. He has pitched just 38 innings since the 2020 season and hasn’t really had his best stuff since 2020.

Contract 

There is no doubt that Britton’s value is at an all-time low. After all, he has hardly pitched since 2020 and, when he has, the results were far from pretty. As a result, the veteran faces a prove-it year in 2023 and he will probably have to take a contract that reflects that harsh reality.

It is believed that Britton is seeking a one-year deal in 2023 and the average annual salary is going to be low. While the last couple of years have been concerning, the lefty reliever’s overall resume is impressive and it could well prove to be a low-risk, high-reward type of deal for any team in need of bolstering their bullpen.

Recommendation 

Despite signing star closer Edwin Díaz to a five-year, $102 million contract, and then signing veteran reliever David Robertson to a one-year, $10 million deal, the Mets still need plenty of reliever help. There’s plenty of question marks over this bullpen as it is currently constituted and, as we’ve seen time and time again, you can’t win without a very good to elite bullpen.

Britton could tick a lot of boxes for the Mets. For starters, he’s a lefty arm and that is something this team has needed for quite some time. Britton would finally tick that box and would bring some much-needed balance to the bullpen.

Secondly, the 34-year-old was one of the best relievers in all of baseball not that long ago and he still had filthy stuff in 2020. He’s proven on the biggest stage having excelled in New York with the Yankees and Britton would bring an absolute wealth of experience to this Mets bullpen. He’s also allegedly considered a highly-respected leader in the clubhouse and he would be the perfect fit for the type of culture this organization is trying to build under manager Buck Showalter.

Of course, the injuries are a concern as is the fact that Britton has hardly pitched since 2020 and he’s struggled since undergoing Tommy John surgery. However, the body of work is there and the talent is clearly still there. If Britton can stay healthy in 2023, then he could be a real nice upgrade for this bullpen and provide the elite lefty arm that the Mets have long craved. This team is ready to win now and adding a tried and tested and vastly experienced reliever would only bolster their chances of enjoying success next year. Plus, Britton will come cheap this off-season and he could represent incredible value if he’s able to stay healthy in 2023 and get back to the formidable pitcher he was only a few years ago.

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The New York Mets officially announced on Saturday that they have signed free agent pitcher Kodai Senga to a five-year, $75 million deal.

The contract includes a full no-trade clause and an opt-out clause that will allow Senga to become a free agent after the 2025 campaign. The deal runs through the 2027 season.

Metsへようこそ！

Welcome to New York, Kodai! We’ve signed @kodaisenga to a five-year contract. pic.twitter.com/upTJT4EfNc

— New York Mets (@Mets) December 18, 2022

In what was a wild offseason, the Mets made bolstering their rotation a major priority and Senga was always the top target after Justin Verlander signed a two-year, $86 million deal. The front office also signed veteran José Quintana to a two-year, $26 million contract.

Senga was arguably one of the most intriguing free agents available on the open market heading into the winter. The 29-year-old spent the last 11 years in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, where he absolutely dominated with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. He went an impressive 87-44 with a 2.59 ERA and 1.252 strikeouts (10.3 K per 9). Senga also won six Japan Series titles since making his debut in 2012, including four straight championships from 2017-20 in what was a dominant stretch.

“Kodai has a championship pedigree and has excelled on the brightest of stages,” said Mets owner Steve Cohen. “We are very excited to welcome Kodai to our Mets family in Queens.”

Senga drew interest from a number of teams looking for a player with high upside that could become an elite middle-of-the-rotation starter in the majors. The right-hander saw his stock rise after a dominant 2022 in Japan in which he went 11-6 with a .94 ERA in 22 starts with the Hawks. Senga recorded 156 strikeouts, a 1.06 WHIP, and a 0.4 HR/9 rate.

While not yet tested in MLB, Senga’s resume is as impressive as they come. The righty is a three-time NPB All-Star (2013, 2017 and 2019), a two-time Pacific League Best Nine Award winner (2019, 2020), a two-time Mitsui Golden Glove Award Winner (2019, 2020), and he also led the Pacific League in strikeouts twice (227 in 2019 and 149 in 2020). He led the Pacific League in wins with 11 in 2020.

Senga throws a fastball averaging 95-96 that tops out at 100 m.p.h., a cutter, a slider and a forkball, which earned the nickname the “ghost fork(ball) in Japan.” Senga has never pitched in MLB but he has the filthy stuff to be able to compete and, if he can fulfil his potential in Queens, he could prove to be one of the best additions of this offseason due to his high upside.

“Kodai has been on our radar for a number of years,” Mets general manager Billy Eppler said. “Kodai has had exceptional success in his career, including helping lead his team to four consecutive Japan Series titles. We’re thrilled to add someone with his ability to our rotation.”

Senga was a player the Mets chased after hard throughout the offseason, and they believe his raw ability and his success in Japan will translate over to the majors in America. Along with Verlander, Max Scherzer, Quintana and Carlos Carrasco, Senga will now be part of one of the best rotations in all of baseball and he figures to be a big part of what the Mets hope will be a World Series push in 2023.

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Free agent DH J.D. Martinez is in agreement on a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, as first reported by Robert Murray of FanSided. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Jon Heyman of The New York Post also reported the deal.

Per Passan, the deal is for one year and $10 million.

The Dodgers have been relatively quiet in free agency, despite losing shortstop Trea Turner who signed an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, but they have now added a tried and tested designated hitter to the heart of their lineup in Martinez.

For a team that already has Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, Martinez will provide another big bat given his ability to absolutely destroy baseballs. He can also get on base and put the ball in play, making him a dangerous player in the middle of any lineup, let alone one as talented as the Dodgers’. Plus, at just one year and for $10 million, Martinez is certainly a low-risk, high-reward type of player.

It is also worth noting that, per Passan, Martinez will reunite with hitting coach Robert Von Scoyoc, who is largely credited with being influential in Martinez’s ascent. Also, Martinez will team up again with Betts with the two largely successful together in Boston with the Red Sox. Von Scoyoc and Betts may well have been big factors behind Martinez’s decision to sign in LA.

Martinez spent the last five years with the Boston Red Sox where he was an All-Star every year apart from 2020, when there was no Midsummer Classic. He hit 171 doubles, 130 home runs and 423 RBI in 647 games for the Red Sox, helping them to win the World Series in 2018. He’s a career .288/.352/.520/.872 hitter with 282 homers and 899 RBI across a 12-year career in the majors.

The veteran slugger absolutely mashes against lefties with a career slash line of .306/.377/.579/.957 against LHP, to go along with 87 home runs, 95 doubles and 270 RBI. He made the All-Star Game in 2022 after hitting .302/.368/.481/.849 with 30 doubles, nine homers and 38 RBI during the first-half of the season. However, Martinez’s game dipped after the All-Star break as he slashed just .233/.301/.400/.701 with seven home runs and 24 RBI.

While Martinez struggled with power in 2022 with a total of 16 home runs, he still finished as one of the best designated hitters in all of baseball in 2022 having ranked 10th in wRC+ (119) among DH’s with a minimum of 400 PA in 2022. Plus, the 35-year-old hit 28 home runs as recently as 2021 and he sneakily ripped a career-high 43 doubles in 2022, underlining his ability to make things happen by putting the ball in play.

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Martinez was a player the Mets were interested in as they continue to try and add another big bat to their lineup. We looked at why the masher would help solve the Mets’ power problem here, but the veteran will now add to what is already a talented core in LA with the Dodgers. According to Bob Nightengale, MLB teams have now spent a staggering total of $1.193 billion this offseason following the signing of Martinez by the Dodgers.

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Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Updated Post – Dec. 15, 16:30 

Super agent Scott Boras accompanied client Brandon Nimmo at Citi Field on Thursday for the presser to announce that Nimmo will be a Met for life following an eight-year, $162 million deal signed by the outfielder.

During that time at Citi Field, Boras was asked about another client and former Met, Michael Conforto. The 29-year-old missed the entire 2022 season because of injury, but is healthy and is receiving interest from multiple teams that reportedly includes the Mets. “Michael is in Arizona, he’s doing great, he’s throwing normally again, back to full health, hitting great and we’re talking to a number of teams about him right now,” Boras said.

The Cubs, Astros, and Mariners are the other known teams to be competing for the services of the former Mets outfielder. Boras on what Conforto is looking for this offseason, “short-term, probably a couple of years with an opt-out.”

Original Post – Dec. 14, 08:10

What has been a blockbuster offseason looks set to continue for the New York Mets as they look to add more offense with a reported interest in free agents Michael Conforto and J.D. Martinez, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Reports emerged from Rosenthal and our very own Michael Mayer on Tuesday night that the Mets had been in contact with agent Scott Boras over star free agent shortstop Carlos Correa. However, that was one superstar the front office missed out on with Correa going on to sign a 13-year, $350 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. It’s the fourth-largest guarantee in MLB history, and also the largest deal for a shortstop. It surpassed the $341 million contract Francisco Lindor signed with the Mets.

However, owner Steve Cohen seems unperturbed by missing out on Correa and has instead turned his attention to other targets. Rosenthal noted in his story that, from people familiar with his thinking, Cohen believes that the Mets still need more offense and another bat despite an already incredible offseason. The Mets will already have a payroll that blows well past the $300 million mark in 2023, but it appears that the front office may add one more piece. We explored here why adding more power to the lineup is crucial.

And, per Rosenthal, Conforto and Martinez appear to be two players that are very clearly on the front office’s radar. It isn’t the first time this offseason that the Mets have been linked with a reunion with Conforto. The free agent outfielder missed the entire 2022 offseason with a shoulder injury. In his final season with the Mets in 2021, Conforto slashed .232/.344/.388 with 20 doubles and 14 home runs in 125 games.

With a 124 wRC+ and 132 homers over a seven-year career, coupled with the fact that he’s still only 29-years-old, Conforto could be an intriguing option for the Mets. He would provide some much-needed outfield depth and, if he can rediscover some of his power from earlier on in his career and remain healthy, he would inject some pop into a lineup that needs another big bat.

Another intriguing option for the Mets and the other player mentioned by Rosenthal is Martinez. The free-agent slugger was linked with a trade to Queens at last year’s trade deadline and he ticks a lot of boxes. The veteran has built a career on taking the cover off the baseball and, with a career on-base percentage of .352, Martinez would not only mash at Citi Field but he could put the ball in play and get on base at a high-rate.

Martinez is coming off a tough year in 2022 having hit just .233/.301/.400 after the All-Star break. He also hit just 16 home runs last year, but his solid .341 on-base percentage proves that he was still able to make things happen offensively. Plus, the 35-year-old still finished as one of the best designated hitters in baseball in 2022 having ranked 10th in wRC+ (119) among DH’s with a minimum of 400 PA in 2022. He also hit 28 homers as recently as 2021 so the lethal power is still very much there.

The five-time All-Star could benefit from a change of scenery in 2023 and he would greatly improve the Mets’ options at the designated hitter position. After all, they got little to no production from the DH spot in 2023, with the position collectively hitting just .218/.314/.371 with 18 home runs and 183 strikeouts. Furthermore, the Mets tied for 15th in home runs with just 171 last year and finished with the fifth-worst hard-hit rate in MLB at 28.6%, per Fangraphs.

As a result, the need for another big bat in the lineup is clear and both Conforto and Martinez would help address what is still a glaring need. Per Spotrac.com, Conforto is projected to sign a one-year, $20.7 million deal while Martinez could get a two-year contract with an average annual salary of $15.1 million on the open market.

There are internal options for the Mets, of course. Highly-rated prospects Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos could all be in line for bigger roles in 2023, while Daniel Vogelbach remains on the roster. However, for a team that should be competing for the World Series next year, adding a legitimate and proven power bat would be the correct way to address a fatal flaw that really hurt this team in big spots both down the stretch and during the postseason in 2022.

And, for a team that has already added Justin Verlander, José Quintana, Kodai Senga and David Robertson this winter, and re-signed Edwin Díaz and Brandon Nimmo, going out and signing a player like Conforto or Martinez and adding yet another big-time weapon to this lineup would be another clear sign that Cohen will do whatever is within his power to help the Mets win in 2023 and beyond.

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Brandon Nimmo has made it clear that his goal was always to return to the New York Mets, and now he wants to focus on winning a World Series with the team that drafted him.

After a career-year in many offensive categories, Nimmo entered free agency as the best outfielder available on the open market behind New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. A host of teams, including the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, were interested in Nimmo who also held talks with the Yankees.

However, having drafted him with the 13th overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft out of Wyoming, the Mets were determined to bring back their leadoff hitter and leader in the clubhouse and were able to get a deal done with Nimmo eventually signing an eight-year, $162 million contract. As a result, the 29-year-old should now finish his career where it started in Queens.

Nimmo was re-introduced to the media at Citi Field during a press conference on Thursday, and the outfielder touched on the special feeling he has knowing he will likely spend the rest of his major league career with the team that drafted him.

“To be able to start your career with someone, and to be able to finish your career with the same team, that’s something really, really special,” Nimmo said. Not many players get to do that. Feels good to put this jersey on and know it’s not coming off.”

Nimmo set career-high marks in 2022 in games played (151), runs (102), hits (159), RBI (64), and doubles (30). He also tied for the National League lead with seven triples and ranked fourth in the NL in runs scored, fifth in on-base percentage (.367), and 12th in walks (72). Having also improved his glove in the field, Nimmo was a hot commodity this winter but he always had his eyes on returning to a place he has made home.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

“Towards the end, the Mets just made it very, very clear that they wanted me back,” Nimmo said. “And from the beginning of last year, I’ve expressed my interest in staying here, and what it would mean to be able to finish my career being a New York Met. I’m just so thankful to be able to be coming back. Last season, we had a great season and came up a little bit short of the ultimate goal.

“I’m here to try and see it through from start to finish. This organization and the Cohens have made it very, very clear, Billy (Eppler) has made very, very clear the goal is to win here. And that’s a big reason why we decided to stick around.”

It has been no secret that the Cohen family, led by owner Steve Cohen and his wife Alex, have transformed the culture within the Mets organization. They’ve made it a place where players want to go and play, and they’ve also strived to ensure that the fans and former players feel connected to their team once again. It was widely reported that Cohen himself got involved in negotiations at the end to ensure that Nimmo did indeed remain a Met.

“The Cohens have been nothing but family to us right from the top,” Nimmo said. “And, to be honest, I think that’s something harder to find throughout the league with ownership. But the Cohens have been in it right from the beginning.”

Having lost Jacob deGrom to the Texas Rangers in free agency, Nimmo will take on an even more important role in the clubhouse in 2023 and beyond. He will also continue to be an important piece of this roster and lineup going forward as the Mets try to win a World Series. That ambition was the driving force behind Nimmo’s decision to ultimately commit the next eight years of his career to the one team he’s only ever known.

“Honestly, when I look back on it and finally get a chance to, being drafted out of Wyoming – a lot of chances had to be taken on that,” Nimmo said. “To be able to give me all the tools that I needed to kind of hone that raw ability through the minor league system to now – here we go – we’re signing this contract and gonna be in New York for the rest of our career, and wanting that to culminate in a World Series. You can’t draw it up any better than that.

“This would be – looking down the lineup, looking at the starting rotation – this is somewhere we can go and we can win, and we can continue to win. That’s always a huge motivator in free agency, is ‘where can I go and compete for a World Series Title?’ The great part is I didn’t have to go anywhere.”

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Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

Free agent right-hander Chris Bassitt is attracting interest from the San Francisco Giants, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Bassitt enjoyed a solid first year in Queens but became a free agent after rejecting the Mets’ one-year qualifying offer. ESPN’s Jeff Passan has previously reported that the team would like to bring the veteran back, a sentiment echoed by Mike Puma of The New York Post. However, according to Puma, Bassitt is seeking a contract longer than three years in free agency while the Mets aren’t keen on going beyond that term.

In terms of this latest report, the Giants would make sense given their reported desire to bolster their rotation this winter. They have been linked to a number of the most notable free agent starters, including the likes of Carlos Rodón, Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, and Andrew Heaney. The latter has since signed with the Texas Rangers.

It is worth noting that the Giants have been in on some of the biggest prizes available this winter but, so far, they have come up empty every single time. They were all in on superstar slugger Aaron Judge before he decided to return to the New York Yankees, while Mike Puma of The Post reported that they also made an offer to outfielder Brandon Nimmo before he signed a contract with the Mets.

Bassitt is one of the best starters left on the open market. The righty posted a 3.42 ERA over 181 2/3 innings in 2022 for the Mets, securing a career-high in strikeouts with 167 and finishing with a 15-9 record. Bassitt also had a 6.6% walk rate and a career-best 48.8% grounder rate. He found plenty of success with his 72 m.p.h curveball, with hitters slashing just .156/.181/.195 against it and no home runs.

Perhaps more importantly, Bassitt proved he was durable last year by becoming the only Mets pitcher to start 30 games and record over 160 innings. He recorded 19 quality starts and could be relied upon in a good chunk of his starts to go deep in games and deliver the goods.

Bassitt’s track record extends beyond 2022 too. He became an All-Star for the first time in 2021 after posting a 3.15 ERA with a 12-4 record for the Oakland A’s in 2021, and he has been a solid and dependable starter for the duration of his career. He’s also a respected figure in the clubhouse and a player who could be a solid No. 2 or No. 3 starter for most teams in MLB.

With multiple reports suggesting that the Mets are still all in on signing Senga in order to beef up their rotation, it remains to be seen whether owner Steve Cohen is willing to spend the money to bring Bassitt back, especially if he wants a contract that exceeds four years. With the Mets having already dished out deals to Justin Verlander and José Quintana, Bassitt may have to take his talents elsewhere and the Giants would be a good fit given their need for starting pitching.

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Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

There remains the possibility that the New York Mets could still sign both outfielder Brandon Nimmo and free agent starter Kodai Senga this offseason, per SNY’s Andy Martino.

Despite a number of big names coming off the board over the last couple of days, both Nimmo and Senga remain unsigned and Martino notes that the Mets are “at least open-minded to stretching past where they wanted to in regards to their budget. This news emerges just hours after the front office bolstered the rotation with the addition of veteran starter José Quintana earlier on Tuesday. Quintana signed a two-year, $26 million deal, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Signing both Nimmo and Senga would ensure that the Mets blow past $300 million in total payroll next year. After signing ace starter Justin Verlander to a two-year, $86 million deal, coupled with the Quintana addition, the Mets currently have $298 million committed to payroll for the 2023 season. That factors in estimated raises for arbitration-eligible players.

According to Spotrac.com, Nimmo is projected to receive an annual average salary of $21.1 million, while Senga could get paid anywhere between $15 million and $20 million per year. Both players would be significant additions in terms of what they would offer on the field, but also in terms of what their signings would mean for the overall payroll in 2023.

Nimmo is currently at the Winter Meetings in San Diego where he is expected to meet with the New York Yankees. The market for the best remaining outfielder on the open market is intense, with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays also interested. Nimmo has remained in contact with the Mets but he isn’t expected to meet with them during the Winter Meetings.

As for Senga, the left-handed starter is one of the most intriguing free agents available this winter and his agent Joel Wolfe told reporters on Tuesday that his client has already received a number of five and six-year offers from teams. Jon Morosi of the MLB Network reported on Monday that the Mets hold very real interest in Senga and manager Buck Showalter made glowing comments about the free agent earlier in the week too.

Senga owns a stellar career 2.42 ERA with a 104-51 record in the NPB in Japan, and he projects to be a very good middle-of-the-rotation starter. He could be a perfect option for the Mets who are seeking another starter in order to really beef up their rotation for the 2023 season. As for Nimmo, he established himself as an elite leadoff hitter for the Mets in 2022 with 16 home runs and 64 RBI. He’s also a hugely respected figure in the clubhouse. If the Mets were to sign both Nimmo and Senga and propel their payroll above the $300 million mark, that would be another clear statement of intent by owner Steve Cohen who remains determined to bring a World Series to Queens.

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Photo by Chris Simon

Brandon Nimmo and the New York Mets have remained in contact but the two parties aren’t expected to meet in person this week at the MLB Winter Meetings, per Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Nimmo is in San Diego as big name free agents begin to fall off the board and his market seems pretty intense with the outfielder market razor thin after Nimmo and superstar slugger Aaron Judge. The Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners are three of the teams believed to have interest in Nimmo.

While Nimmo isn’t scheduled to meet with the Mets front office this week, he will meet with the New York Yankees who are seeking two outfielders, according to Jon Heyman of The Post. Judge is obviously the main priority for the Yankees this winter, but Nimmo would provide a much-needed lefty bat and he’s used to the pressure of playing in New York.

And, per Heyman, if Nimmo does sign elsewhere then the Mets are looking into the possibility of signing veteran center fielder Kevin Kiermaier. The 32-year-old hit .228/.281/.369/.649 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in just 63 games for the Rays in 2022. While Kiermaier doesn’t have the same offensive ceiling as Nimmo, he probably owns a better glove and he’s renowned for his defensive prowess as well as his ability to make flashy plays in the field. Another one of the team’s backup plans–Cody Bellinger–signed a one-year deal with the Cubs.

However, it is worth noting that not all hope is lost when it comes to Nimmo returning to the Mets. After all, general manager Billy Eppler has made it clear that his team still has plenty of business to do even after signing ace starter Justin Verlander to a two-year, $86 million contract on Monday, and Nimmo was a huge part of this offense in 2022. Given their aspirations to compete for the World Series in 2023, it would make perfect sense for the Mets to bring the 29-year-old back and Nimmo’s agent, Scott Boras, had some interesting comments on Tuesday.

“There’s nothing that I see about them that has changed their direction or attitude toward getting the best players in the marketplace,” Boras said about the Mets being aggressive in free agency during his press availability at the Winter Meetings.

Given that Nimmo is the second-best outfielder available on the free agent market, Boras’ comments would suggest that the Mets are still very much interested in bringing one of their leaders back. Nimmo hit .274/.367/.433/.800 with 16 home runs, 30 doubles, seven triples and 64 RBI in 673 plate appearances in 2022. He established himself as a high-end leadoff hitter and his return would represent an important piece of business for the Mets as they continue to try and build a championship caliber roster.

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The New York Mets could be doing some due diligence on free agent pitcher Ross Stripling, as reported by MMO’s very own Michael Mayer.

Starting pitching was one of the biggest priorities for the Mets this offseason. The front office made a good start towards accomplishing that goal by signing three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander to a two-year, $86 million deal on Monday.

However, with Verlander a direct replacement for Jacob deGrom who signed with the Texas Rangers, coupled with the fact that Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker are also free agents, there is a lot of work still to be done. As a result, the Mets have been linked with a lot of starters this winter and Andy Martino of SNY has reported that they are on the hunt for a middle-of-the-rotation type arm.

This is where Stripling comes in. Entrenched firmly in the middle tiers of free agent starters available this offseason, the righty was allowed to hit the open market after the Toronto Blue Jays decided against issuing the $19.65 million qualifying offer. Even if Stripling signs elsewhere, the Blue Jays won’t be entitled to draft pick compensation.

Stripling provided Toronto with a quality arm in 2022. Stepping up in the absence of starter Hyun Jin Ryu, Stripling posted a 10-4 record, logging over 134 innings with a 3.01 ERA. He struckout 111 batters, allowed only 20 walks, 49 runs and posted a 129 ERA+, and a 3.11 FIP. The 33-year-old was also worth a 2.7 WAR. Stripling’s highlight came in a game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 17, where he struck out seven and did not walk a batter in 6.1 scoreless innings.

With a 4-seam fastball that sits in the low-90s, Stripling enjoyed a career year in 2022 as he lowered his HR/9 from 2.04 in 2021 to 0.80, he increased his ground ball percentage from 35.5% to 43.8% and his BB/9 fell from 2.66 to 1.34. With a career 3.78 ERA and 622 strikeouts, Stripling is a solid No. 3 or No. 4 starter and he’s perhaps one of the best bargains available this winter.

What makes Stripling a really interesting option is the fact that he can also come out of the bullpen in a relief role. He had one save for the Blue Jays in 2022 and he could be used by the Mets out of the bullpen in a high-leverage spot either down the stretch or in the postseason. That flexibility could provide any team with a real weapon and he could work in long relief if certain starters need more of a rest.

According to Spotrac.com, Stripling is projected to land a four-year, $70,307,620 deal with an average annual salary of $17.5 million. Having already committed big bucks to Verlander and with the market intense for starting pitchers, Stripling represents a real bargain and he could be a cost effective but hugely impactful middle-of-the-rotation starter for the Mets in 2023.

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Just a couple of days ago we were sharing our very unhappy reactions to Jacob deGrom no longer being a Met. Thankfully, Steve Cohen works fast, and now we have Justin Verlander. So, what are our thoughts on this? Naturally, they’re much happier and more positive than our last roundtable!

John Sheridan

The Mets had given out the highest AAV to Max Scherzer before topping it by signing Justin Verlander. They also have previously given out the largest contract for a SS (Francisco Lindor) and reliever (Edwin Díaz). Keep in mind, they’re not done. This is a payroll pushing or will exceed $300 million. It took the Wilpons 3+ years to do that. There were promises made by Steve Cohen when he purchased the team, and so far, he has followed through on all of them.

Matt Mancuso

The Mets made about the best about-face move possible. Verlander offers the same ceiling as Jacob deGrom, but his floor should stand to be higher. I’m still surprised on how the Mets are acting like an intelligent big-market team, I must admit, but it’s a change I’m happy to see.

Dan Quiñones

Verlander’s age may concern some, but the reigning AL Cy Young winner looks like he still has plenty left in the tank. Verlander and Scherzer were both elite in 2022, so the duo at the top of the rotation should be as good as any in baseball. The fact that the team lost Jacob deGrom and filled that hole instantly with a pitcher who isn’t far behind his talent level is a testament to this front office and ownership group.

Andrew Steele-Davis

This was the best possible decision the Mets could have made. After Jacob deGrom left, an elite arm to pair with Max Scherzer at the top of the rotation was needed and Verlander is exactly that. His Hall of Fame worthy resume speaks for itself and, yes, the age is a concern, but 2022 was proof that Verlander still has some of his very best baseball left in him. Plus, and more importantly, the Mets are firmly in win-now mode and the three-time Cy Young Award winner and nine-time All-Star is the perfect starter to help you win now. This is yet another solid sign that Steve Cohen is determined to make the Mets a perennial winner and a well-respected big market team that can attract stars year in and year out.

Patrick Glynn

Listen, I’ll take it. While the sadness of deGrom will likely linger into the 2023 season, having two of the best four pitchers of the last 20 years—and the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner—at the top of the rotation will help ease that. Health is obviously the scary part, and the Mets have more work to do to add depth to what will likely be the oldest rotation in baseball. But if Verlander can bring 50% of the positive emotions deGrom gave fans while offering 90% of the production, I think they’ll take it. In past years, deGrom leaving would mark many years of sadness, likely even more years of wondering when a number would get retired, and even more years of wondering “what if.” Under the Cohen regime, though, you know the number will get retired and there might even be a statue for the second-best pitcher in Mets history. That allows you to focus on the results of moves like bringing in Verlander. Without deGrom, he was the best move the Mets could’ve made for the rotation. They made it.

Michelle Ioannou

Sure, I’ve already had Phillies fans ask me “how much does Verlander really have left in him?” Well, I guess we’ll just see. Steve Cohen is no dummy – he didn’t sign him to a long-term deal because of his age. But what Cohen shows us here is that he’s not playing any games – he lost deGrom and he worked real fast to get another Cy Young winner in the rotation.

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