New York Mets southpaw Steven Matz is aiding New York City in its fight against COVID-19. Matz’s TRU32 program is donating $32,000 to first responders and hospitals in New York City that are fighting the virus.

The 28-year-old started the TRU32 program in 2015 as a way to thank first responders and all those who serve in the NYPD, FDNY and US military.

During each TRU32 Mets game that has been held since the initiative began, a group of 32 first responders, firefighters, police officers and military members were invited to meet Matz and enjoy the game with a guest. The program also funds scholarships for the children of first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Matz hosts an annual bowling event called “Strikes with Steven” to raise money for TRU32. The most recent event was held on Nov. 7, 2019 in Manhattan, and was attended by some former Mets including Ron Darling and John Franco.

Matz’s TRU32 program is an extension of Pastime for Patriots, which is a nonprofit initiative that former MLB reliever Brad Ziegler started “to honor all members of our armed forces and their families for their extreme sacrifice to our country by providing educationally-based financial assistance to military children and family-friendly activities for military members and their families.”

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Photo courtesy of Steve Russell, Toronto Star

Happy Monday, Mets fans! Just two days to go in the non-waiver trade deadline, and a few moves – both blockbuster and simple fixes – remain to be made.

Following the Atlanta Braves’ acquisition of right-handed set-up man Brad Brach yesterday in exchange for $250K in international bonus money, the headline of this peak trading period again calls for a reshuffled list of available relief pitchers. More controllable arms have become part of the conversation between contenders and those in need of a more thorough rebuild, as reported by multiple different sources this past weekend.

Osuna On the Move?

With his 75-game suspension (violation of the league’s domestic violence policy) due to end on August 5, fiery young closer Roberto Osuna has become the center of the Toronto Blue Jays’ latest efforts to renovate their farm system, which ranks ninth on MLB.com, but could certainly benefit from more reinforcements once Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are promoted in the next month or two. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, rival executives have been receiving calls to gauge interest in the righty.

Although he has yet to allow a run in six minor league rehab appearances and proudly owns a career 0.92 WHIP and 6.33 K/BB ratio (10.2 to 1.6 per nine innings), Osuna would indubitably carry some baggage as baseball fans have become more vigilant and critical of teams indulging problematic figures in recent months. Even if a team bites and brings in Osuna (who is eligible to pitch in the postseason and isn’t a free agent until 2021), the marketing burden seems likely to factor into whatever Toronto would receive in return.

Ziegler the Next to Go

Jon Heyman of FanCred Sports has cited the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, and Cleveland Indians as three possible landing spots for 38-year old Miami reliever Brad Ziegler – who, per Heyman, is “likely to be moved soon.”

Ziegler has allowed just 2 runs over his last 27 innings of work, but even then, still owns an earned run average of 3.98 and currently averages a career-high 1.2 HR/9. Such numbers serve to illustrate just how nightmarish the first two months of Ziegler’s season truly were – which could possibly hamper interest as a result. However, it’s hard to expect that any team break the bank on an impending free agent reliever, to begin with.

Of course, given that every high-end reliever has found a new home thus far, it’s also hard to picture teams shying away from Ziegler – given his value as a rental – and pursuing better options that may not necessarily exist. In any case, it will be interesting to see where he winds up.

Interest Mounting in Kela

Perhaps the most attractive bullpen arm on the market to offer controllable years, Keone Kela continues to make his way into discussions with just about any team willing to assist with a Texas-sized rebuild.

Team beat writer TR Sullivan recently described the Rangers’ closer as having “the potential to bring back the biggest return of any player the Rangers are discussing with other clubs.” It’s hard to dispute such an assertion, given the fact that the Dodgers, Red Sox, Indians, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Cubs, and Braves have all scouted the Hawaiian flamethrower at some point during the current trading sweepstakes.

Kela, 25, won’t be a free agent until after the 2021 season, and has hashed out a 2.97 FIP with 10.4 K/9 while converting 24 out of a possible 25 saves in his first regular taste of the ninth inning this year. While the Rangers had sent scouts to watch Braves’ prospect Luiz Gohara strike out 10 in 5.2 minor league innings earlier last week, Ken Rosenthal has added that Atlanta would only deal Gohara if it signified a controllable starter for a return.

Orioles Not Done Unloading

After pulling in next to nothing in exchange for Brad Brach (at least in terms of minor league talent), the Baltimore Orioles could see themselves pawning off more controllable players in the near future, as tweeted by Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic.

Biertempfel speculates that the Pirates, who have been “chasing” righty starter Kevin Gausman, could also reel in incumbent closer Mychal Givens if the package does in fact go out for delivery. Givens has seen his K rate fall to a career-low 9.91, but both the righty’s 2.99 FIP and .352 opponent BABIP (95 points higher than their batting average) suggest he’s fallen victim to some bad luck.

Photo courtesy of Joy R. Absalon, USA Today Sports

Givens seems an even more likely candidate to be shipped out considering the Orioles are unlikely to find a trade partner for outfielder Adam Jones. While he’s on pace to hit just 16 home runs this year (which would be his lowest figure since 2008) and has lost his magic as a defender in center, Jones has in fact drawn interest – most notably from the Philadelphia Phillies. Jones is in fact deciding to stay in Baltimore for the rest of the season, as reported by Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports, with family and familiarity dictating his decision to maintain his 10-5 rights (thus allowing him to use his no-trade clause).

Minnesota Also Holding Off

While still very much interested in deals surrounding expiring contracts such as those of Brian Dozier, Lance Lynn, and Zach Duke, the Minnesota Twins have made it clear to their trade partners (as reported by La Velle E. Neal of the Star Tribune) that they’d need a serious return if they intend to deal controllable starter Kyle Gibson.

Gibson, 30, currently ranks 12th in the American League with a 3.42 ERA, boasts a career-high with 8.8 K/9 through 21 appearances, and is on pace to eclipse 200 innings for the first time as a big-league pitcher.

Whether or not they plan to retain him in a competitive effort in 2019, or simply want to build value as much as they can now and try their hand at a whopping prospect return the following year hasn’t been specified. In any case, however, Gibson has been a perfect complement behind ace Jose Berrios in the Twins’ rotation, and has earned a chance to continue improving over the next few months.

Archer Talks Escalating

While it’s been a relatively slow weekend for starters ever since the Cole Hamels and J.A. Happ trades, Tampa Bay has continued to field calls and negotiate potential deals involving their current ace and lone starting pitcher, Chris Archer. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN has quoted the Rays’ discussions as “intensifying,” with Archer carrying a “number one starter type of price tag.”

Joel Sherman of the New York Post has cited the Braves and Yankees as outside chances to acquire Archer, though the Yankees are reportedly a “long shot” despite Tampa’s scouted interest in pitching prospect Justus Sheffield. Sources have told Ken Rosenthal that the Dodgers may also be interested, but the emerging frontrunner, per Jon Heyman, is in San Diego.

Archer has struggled to return to his once dominant form as an ace in 2014-2015, compiling a 4.10 ERA and 22-36 record, falling victim to the home run bug (1.2 per nine) despite maintaining some solid strikeout and walk numbers (10.5 to 2.9 per nine).

His increased dependence on his offspeed pitches, despite similar velocities with his fastball, could be the clearest culprit. However, even if they were to lose in a trade involving one or two prospect arms, the Padres still boast the best farm system in baseball, and have plenty of options to move around if they decide to shake things up.

The post MLB Rumor Roundup: Relief Market Nearly Cleaned Out appeared first on Metsmerized.

Every team’s 2017 roster is almost set with pitchers and catchers coming next week. So that means that most of the offseason moves have been done, and we can finally start completely evaluating how well teams have done during the offseason.

There was no marquee acquisition in the National East this offseason, but it was far from a mundane offseason for any of the division’s five teams. So with that being said, here are the NL East’s offseason standings:

1. Atlanta Braves

Added: R.A. Dickey, Bartolo Colon, Jaime Garcia, Sean Rodriguez, Micah Johnson

Lost: Mallex Smith, John Gant, Williams Perez, A.J. Pierzynski, Tyrell Jenkins

Atlanta is the only team in the division that substantially improved their team this offseason. Adding Colon, Dickey and Garcia to a rotation that already includes All-Star Julio Teheran gives this rotation a tremendous upside that could mean the Braves become the most improved team in baseball. Atlanta was 35-27 over the last 62 games of the season, so they could be a dark horse Wild Card contender this year.

2. Miami Marlins

Added: Edinson Volquez, Jeff Locke, Brad Ziegler, A.J. Ellis, Junichi Tazawa

Lost: Mike Dunn, Fernando Rodney, Chris Johnson, Jeff Francoeur, Jeff Mathis

The Marlins blew 29 saves last year, the second-most in the National League. They’ve shored up that need by adding Brad Ziegler to the back-end of that bullpen, and Junichi Tazawa should help them in middle relief. Miami has also added two serviceable starters to their rotation, and they’ve done so without losing any key contributors to last year’s team. But they will sure miss Jose Fernandez, as will every baseball fan.

3. New York Mets

Added: Ben Rowen, Tom Gorzelanny, Adam Wilk, Cory Burns

Lost: Bartolo Colon, Jon Niese (But is that really a loss?), James Loney (same with that one), Alejandro De Aza (and this one), Logan Verrett, and possibly Kelly Johnson

Sometimes, no news is good news. And that’s what the Mets are going to have to hope this year. They didn’t add anyone despite bringing back Yoenis Cespedes, Neil Walker, Fernando Salas and Jerry Blevins. But aside from Colon and Johnson they have pretty much every key contributor to last year’s team again this year. Everything for the Mets will rely on the rotation’s health.

4. Washington Nationals

Added: Adam Eaton, Derek Norris, Joe Nathan, Matt Albers

Lost: Wilson Ramos, Mark Melancon, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez

The only reason why they aren’t in last is because the Adam Eaton trade will definitely help them in the short term. As Mike Rizzo noted, he has a very good WAR, and has a statline a rotisserie baseball owner would kill for. Trading your top two prospects– including someone as elite as Lucas Giolito— may hurt in the long-term, but that probably won’t have much bearing this season. They also lost Wilson Ramos, who was key piece for them in 2016.

And that wasn’t even the worst aspect of Washington’s offseason. After talk arose that they were trying to trade for both Andrew McCutchen and Chris Sale, they ended up with neither. Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen both rejected them as well. In short, they got rejected more times than Beavis and Butt-Head when they glued hair to their face to get girls. No, nobody remembers that show?

But the worst part of their offseason was by far the fact that they did not add a closer. As things currently stand now, Shawn Kelley would be their closer. He has 11 career saves. The only other guy on their roster with extensive closing experience is Joe Nathan, a 42-year-old with nine appearances in the last two seasons. Outside of that, the rest of their bullpen is pretty abysmal. I wrote this article on why the 2017 Nationals look like the 2008 Mets, and as an impartial observer I must say it’s pretty accurate.

There are rumors that the Nats are in talks with the White Sox for David Robertson. If this deal were to go through, they’d probably one-up the Mets and Marlins on this list. If they don’t, it could be the undoing of their entire season.

5. Philadelphia Phillies

Added: Michael Saunders, Clay Buchholz, Joaquin Benoit, Howie Kendrick, Pat Neshek

Lost: Peter Bourjos, Ryan Howard, Cody Asche, Darin Ruf, Charlie Morton, A.J. Ellis

None of the players the Phillies acquired are particular difference makers. Michael Saunders was an All-Star last year, but he batted .201/.292/.367 after June 19. Kendrick could be a solid addition to the lineup, but he is coming off a year where he posted a career low in batting average. Buchholz, likewise, is also coming off of a down year. The Phillies are still rebuilding.

The post National League East Offseason Standings appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Miami Marlins have signed free agent reliever Brad Ziegler to a two-year, $16 million contract according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Ziegler could earn more money through incentives and the deal is pending a physical. The Marlins added reliever Junichi Tazawa on Thursday night on a two-year deal as well.

The Mets were one of nine teams that reportedly showed interest in the right-hander.

Original Report – 6 am

Free agent right-handed reliever, Brad Ziegler, is said to be weighing multiple offers as he looks for his new team as Chris Cotillo tweeted on Thursday.

Ziegler, 37, is coming off back-to-back brilliant seasons split between Arizona and Boston. In 2015 with Arizona, Ziegler pitched to an incredible 1.85 ERA while making 66 appearances. He accumulated 30 saves in that season while pitching to a 0.96 WHIP.

This past season, Ziegler split time between Arizona and Boston where he combined for 69 appearances while pitching to a 2.25 ERA. He accumulated 22 saves last season while pitching to a 1.37 WHIP between the two teams.

It is currently believed that the Mets, Yankees, Diamondbacks, Rockies, and Marlins have all shown interest in the righty. The Mets though have said that some payroll must be shed in order to obtain any free agents at this point.

Ziegler is believed to have multiple two-year offers in hand but is currently awaiting a three-year deal as per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.

If he ends up with a two-year pact, it is expected that it will be for $17 million total. It seems though it may come down to whichever team blinks first in offering a three-year deal as relievers continue rack up longer contracts as of late.

The post Brad Ziegler Signs With Marlins appeared first on Metsmerized.

Peter Gammons tweeted that the Mets asked the Tampa Bay Rays about talented young closer Alex Colome.

According to Gammons, the Rays said the deal had to start with either Amed Rosario or Michael Conforto.

Colome, 27, saved 37 games for the Rays in 2016, pitching to a 1.91 ERA while striking out 71 batters in 56.2 innings. He also made his first All Star team.

While the Mets have said they are willing to move prospects for bullpen help, I don’t think Rosario or Conforto was what they had in mind.

The Nationals are another team that is scouring the market for bullpen help, but they need it a lot more than the Mets do. After missing out on Mark Melancon and Kenley Jansen (who took $5 million less to return to the Dodgers), they will either try to sign a free agent option (Greg Holland or Brad Ziegler), or trade for a closer (David Robertson or Alex Colome).

The post Mets Asked Rays About Alex Colome appeared first on Metsmerized.

The team that signs Brad Ziegler isn’t going to draw front-page headlines or an uptick in jersey sales. Heck, they might not even trend on Twitter for signing him.

But that doesn’t mean that signing Brad Ziegler won’t be an important move that drastically changes the landscape of the 2017 season for one, or multiple teams.

Ziegler is the best relief pitcher available now that Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman and Mark Melancon are signed. He’s 37 years old, so he’s not going to command a long-term deal for $15 to $20 million a year. And his career numbers are as good as any other relief pitcher in baseball.

He has never posted an ERA above 3.49 since breaking into the majors in 2008, and has a lifetime mark of 2.44. Ziegler has been especially dominant over the last two seasons.

Closer A, since 2015: 121 IP, 2.08 ERA, 183 ERA+
Closer B, since 2015: 136 IP, 2.05 ERA, 210 ERA+
A is Kenley Jansen. B is Brad Ziegler.

— Chris Gaine (@chris_gaine) December 12, 2016

He’s been as good as Kenley Jansen since 2015, and will come at just a fraction of Jansen’s price. Ziegler is also quite versatile; he has been a setup man for much of his career and has only become a full-time closer over the last two seasons, and he has excelled there as well.

This is someone that the Mets need to sign for a couple of reasons. The first of which is their need for another arm in the bullpen. Jeurys Familia could end up getting an extended suspension after he was arrested in October and charged with simple assault. And after he comes back, the Mets will need a seventh-inning man to shore up the back end of their bullpen.

And another reason the Mets need him– and this is the one that will justify overspending on him– is that both the Nationals and the Marlins are vying for a closer. Ziegler is by far the strongest option here and depriving two division rivals of a guy who is statistically on par with Kenley Jansen might just be the biggest upside of a Ziegler-Mets partnership.

The Nationals’ bullpen right now is nonexistent. If they get a closer like Ziegler, however, they’ll re-emerge as favorites to win the division. The Marlins are in a similar situation, albeit they’re a middle-of-the-road team that probably is going to need to make a lot more moves to contend.

Other options on the relief market are not nearly as effective as Ziegler has been. They include Neftali Feliz, who is one season removed from a 6.38 ERA, Greg Holland, who hasn’t pitched in two years, and Santiago Casilla, who has been remarkably inconsistent over the last couple seasons. Considering this market, the Mets need to sign Ziegler to keep their division rivals from acquiring a top-tier reliever.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports predicted that Ziegler would get a two-year, $18 million contract. That’s more than fair for him, and if the Mets need to go a little bit higher than that, so be it.

The post The Mets Should Zero in on Ziegler– Even if They Have to Overspend appeared first on Metsmerized.

Here is the most up-to-date information regarding the top remaining free agent relievers, many of whom the Mets and their division rivals have been connected to this offseason.

It is important to note before continuing that the Mets do not plan on signing a free agent reliever until Jay Bruce has been traded.

Kenley Jansen – Unfortunately for the Mets, two of the three teams seemingly in the bidding for closer Kenley Jansen are in the NL East. Both the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins are reportedly in on the Jansen sweepstakes, as well as the Los Angeles Dodgers. If the Nationals were to miss out on Jansen, they would likely pursue White Sox closer David Robertson or Rays’ closer Alex Colome.

Conversely, if the Marlins were to miss out, incumbent closer A.J. Ramos would keep his role and they would shift their attention to acquiring a set-up man or two.

Greg Holland – Once one of the very best closers in the game, Holland hasn’t pitched since 2015 due to Tommy John surgery. He is aiming to come back in 2017, though, and held a showcase earlier in the offseason. The Mets were one of the 16 teams known to have sent a scout to watch, so there is at least some interest.

It is reported that the former Royal is looking for a two-year deal worth $8 million per season. While he got good reviews during his showcase, it is possible teams will hold out as long as they can this offseason and try to get him on a one-year deal.

Brad Ziegler – The 36 year-old righty has been connected to the Mets, but has also been connected to the division rival Marlins. As I mentioned earlier, the Marlins have their sights set on Kenley Jansen, so Ziegler would be a backup plan for them. The long-time Diamondback would be a phenomenal addition to the Mets bullpen.

Neftali Feliz – Once the 2010 Rookie of the Year, Neftali Feliz has Sandy Alderson written all over him. Alderson has said he likes young arms with closing experience, and while Feliz isn’t quite the pitcher he was when he saved 72 games in his first two full seasons, he can still bring it.

In 2016 he averaged 96 mph on his fastball, reaching as high as 99.9 mph. These are far better numbers than anything he has put up since 2011, as his fastball velocities from 2012-2015 were 94.6, 93.7, 93.6, and 94.6 mph. Now at 28 years-old, he is a solid option for the Mets bullpen after posting a 3.52 ERA in 53.2 innings with 61 strikeouts for the Pirates in 2016. He seems to be on the up-and-up, so now could be a great time to bring him aboard with a multi-year deal.

Fernando Salas – Salas, 31, was a solid acquisition by Sandy Alderson late in the 2016 season. He appeared in 17 games for the Mets and pitched to a 2.08 ERA, earning him a spot higher up on the list of available free agent relievers. While the Mets have said they’d like to have him back, those pesky Marlins have also been connected to him.

Jerry Blevins – The Mets have publicly said they want the southpaw to return, however the lucrative deals of Brett Cecil and Marc Rzepczynski have driven up his price tag. A reunion is entirely possible, however it all depends on how much the Mets are willing to spend. It also hinges on their willingness to offer three years as that is what Blevins and Co. seem to be pursuing.

So there you have it, those are the names to watch when it comes to the Mets bullpen. Again, don’t expect any signings before Jay Bruce is traded, as the hope is still that trading Bruce could bring back a solid, cheaper back-end reliever.

The post Latest On The Free Agent Reliever Market appeared first on Metsmerized.

Brad Ziegler
Position: Right-handed reliever
Bats: Right – Throws: Right
Born: October 10, 1979 (Age 37)

Brad Ziegler hits the open market at a time when teams are prioritizing bullpen help more and more these days, after watching what the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians did in this year’s postseason, and how the Kansas City Royals relied upon its dominant relievers in 2014-15.

Ziegler, 37, has played nine seasons in the majors with the Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, and a half season helping the Boston Red Sox clinch their first A.L. East division title in three years in 2016.

Between Arizona and Boston this season, Ziegler posted a record of 4-7 in 69 appearances, tossing 68 innings and holding opponents to a .258 batting average, with a 2.25 ERA (19th among all relievers). Ziegler fared better against right-handed hitters, holding them to a slash line of .252/.301/.329 in 155 at-bats in ’16, compared to .275/.380/.343 in 102 at-bats against lefties. The splits are even more pronounced for his career, as Ziegler has held right-handed hitters to a .559 OPS in over 1300 at-bats, compared to a .757 OPS against lefties in over 800 at-bats.

The submarine throwing right-hander offers a unique release point in his motion; inducing a high number of groundouts (63.3%, 4th best in majors among relievers) and movement on his pitches. Ziegler features a fastball, slider, sinker, and changeup, and relies on the slower speeds and deception to fool batters at the plate.

In 2016, Ziegler recorded his best swinging strike percentage of his career according to FanGraphs, at 11.7%, beating his previous season high of 10.9% in ’14. Ziegler also recorded his best O-Swing %, which refers to the percentage of pitches a batter swings at outside the strike zone, which was at 37.9% in ’16. In turn, his O-Contact % which calculates the percentage of times a batter makes contact when swinging at pitches outside the zone, was also a career best at 61.7%.

From 2011-’16, Ziegler has been the model of consistency and health, recording the second highest number of games with 424 behind only Tyler Clippard‘s 431, fourth most innings pitched at 403, fourth best HR/9 with 0.33, the second best groundball rate at 69.1%, and stranding the third most runners with 190 during that six-year stretch.

Ziegler also has experience closing out games, as he’s closed for all three of the major league teams he’s been on, recording a career high 30 saves in 2015 with the Diamondbacks, out of 32 chances. This past season, Ziegler was 18-for-20 in save opportunities with the Diamondbacks, and 4-for-8 with the Red Sox.

Contract: 

Ziegler’s coming off a two-year $10.5 million deal from Arizona, and one in which he lived up to his side of the deal. Ziegler has been one of most dependable relievers in baseball, appearing in at least 66 games in the last six seasons, and only posting an ERA north of 3.00 once during that span. He should be in line for at least another two-year deal, especially after posting even better numbers in the AL East as a member of the Red Sox. Look for a two-year, $12-15 million deal for the 37-year-old. Similar deals for relievers include Pat Neshek‘s two-year $12.5 million contract with the Houston Astros in ’14.

Recommendation: 

The Mets should be inquiring about Ziegler, and looking to potentially bring him in for 2017 and beyond. His age hasn’t slowed him down, especially since he doesn’t rely on velocity for his success. I also love the idea of having a sidearm/submarine type arm on the team, as it rattles the hitters and gives them a harder time to pick up the angle and movements on his pitches. Chad Bradford and Joe Smith are recent Met examples of guys who had success with sidearm pitching. With the recent news of Jeurys Familia facing domestic violence charges in New Jersey, and the prospects of losing the closer for a prolonged period of time in ’17, the Mets need to bring in a bevy of arms that can compete in camp, and Ziegler would offer a ton of value in Queens in 2017.

The post MMO Free Agent Profile: Brad Ziegler, RP appeared first on Metsmerized.