After years of being a divisional pest, former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was the first to report the agreement. 

The deal comes with an opt-out after the first season, according to Passan. 

Hoskins, 31, missed last season after suffering a torn ACL during spring training. Prior to the injury, he was a mainstay in the middle of the Philadelphia lineup. 

Hoskins hit 148 home runs, drove in 405 runs, and had an OPS of .846 over six seasons with the Phillies. 

Latest Mets News 

David Wright secured his spot on the 2025 Hall of Fame ballot, while Billy Wagner and Carlos Beltran improved from the previous year. Read Metsmerized’s coverage here. 

Jose Reyes did not receive a single Hall of Fame vote. Here’s how former Mets fared on this year’s ballot. 

Ken Rosenthal reported the Mets “do not seem inclined to spend on a DH.” Read more here.

The Mets reportedly have interest in reliever Ryne Stanek. Read more here. 

The Mets will debut their City Connect jerseys on April 26. More details can be found here.

Jay Horwitz conducted an in-depth interview with former Mets pitcher John Maine. Find the interview here. 

Latest MLB News

Adrian Beltre, Joe Mauer and Todd Helton were elected to the 2024 Hall of Fame. Read more here. 

The Los Angeles Angels signed pitcher Matt Moore, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The Nationals agreed to a one-year contract with Joey Gallo, according to Andrew Golden of the Washington Post.  

The Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a contract with James Paxton, according to Heyman. 

The Durham Bulls, the Tampa Bay Rays Triple-A affiliate, announced Morgan Ensberg as its manager. 

Pitchers Michael Lorenzen and Noah Syndergaard threw for about 16 MLB Teams on Tuesday, per Robert Murray of Fansided. 

Latest on MMO 

Brian Wright outlines the Hall of Fame case for David Wright. 

Christian De Block profiles Matt Moore. 

On This Date in Mets History

1980: Publishing company Doubleday and Co. bought the Mets for $21 million. Part of the group was Fred Wilpon, who owned a majority of the team by 2002. 

Birthdays: Jose Quintana (35), Mike Glavine (51), Neil Allen (66)

The post Morning Briefing: Rhys Hoskins Joins Brewers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Position: RP B/T: L/L
Age: 34 (06/18/1989)

2023 Traditional Stats: 50 G, 4 GF, 52 2/3 IP, 5-1, 2.56 ERA, 1.158 WHIP, 60 SO, 15 BB
2023 Advanced Stats: 176 ERA+, 27.5% SO%, 6.9% BB%, 3.33 xERA, 3.73 FIP, 3.95 xFIP, 0.6 fWAR, 0.3 bWAR

RUNDOWN

Matt Moore began in big league career as a starting pitcher with the Tampa Bay Rays. The former eighth-round pick was an All-Star in 2013, winning a career-high 17 games while pitching to a 3.29 ERA in 150 1/3 innings. But Moore failed to take his pitching to the next level, bouncing around from team to team between 2016 and 2021. It felt as if he was going to be nothing more than a spot starter.

But in March 2022, it all changed for him. Moore signed a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers to be a part of their bullpen. He had worked as a reliever for brief periods of his career, but never had that as a defined role. At the age of 33, Moore had one of the best seasons of his career, pitching to a staggering 1.95 ERA in a career-high 63 appearances. He went from being a complete unknown to one of the more coveted receivers on the open market.

Moore would wind up signing with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year, $7.55 million deal heading into the 2023 season. Questions remained as to whether or not he could repeat that level of pitching for a second consecutive season, which he certainly did. Moore made 46 appearances for three teams, including the Cleveland Guardians and the Miami Marlins. He threw less innings than he did the season prior, but he still pitched to a 2.56 ERA. For the second straight off-season, Moore is a very intriguing bullpen option.

CONTRACT

Moore has signed a one-year deal with each of his last two teams, so he may decide to do the same. In the same way, he has pitched incredibly well over the last two years, so he could be in the market for a multi-year deal. I expect Moore to look for the later, given that he is entering the 2024 season at the age of 34. I see the reliever getting a two-year deal, with an AAV of $6.5 million.

RECOMMENDATION

The New York Mets have two left-handed relievers on their 40-man roster, Brooks Raley and Josh Walker. It is difficult to envision a scenario in which Walker begins the 2024 season on the Opening Day roster, so the bullpen may have just one lefty. Teams have built bullpens with less left-handers than that, with the latest example being the 2023 Houston Astros. So if the Mets feel comfortable, they may decide to carry just Raley in their bullpen. leaving Walker in Triple-A Syracuse.

David Stearns could opt to focus on adding in other areas, but I think adding a veteran piece like Matt Moore would be sensible. Last season’s struggles, particularly in the bullpen, made it clear that reinforcements were needed. Adding Michael Tonkin, Jorge López and Austin Adams provides depth, but Moore is coming off an impressive 2023 campaign. If the Mets decide to bring him in, he can slot in as a receiver who can pitch in high-leverage situations.

The post Free Agent Profile: Matt Moore, RP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Tanner Rainey, WAS

Rainey was amid a breakout when Tommy John prematurely ended his season. He has since receded to the backs of baseball fans’ memories and has been usurped by both Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey in the back-end bullpen pecking order for the Nationals. While his walk rate is a bit above average, Rainey has strikeout stuff and throws very hard.  He’s under contract for two more seasons and would make for the perfect bridge to Edwin Diaz over those years. He has untapped potential and is finally healthy, and this could make for a savvy pickup that would solidify the back end and provide a more comforting alternative to Diaz when he isn’t available.

David Robertson. Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

David Robertson, FA

Robertson had two stints with the Yankees, so why not have two with the Mets as well?  He was downright elite with the Mets last season but fell on hard times with the Marlins. He should still be viewed as one of the better setup options available, and if he isn’t upset at the Mets for trading him midseason, this reunion makes a lot of sense. Hopefully, tacking on a no-trade clause and having Diaz as the main guy out of the bullpen could make Robertson amenable to returning to Flushing.  While his ERA was unseemly with the Fish, his peripherals were not all that bad, and it would be hard to project Robertson for anything other than a solid season in 2024.

Ryan Brasier, FA

The 36-year-old former Red Sox pitcher has been randomly dominant at times. Those times include his stint in LA last season, where he pitched to a microscopic 0.70 ERA. While it would be foolish to expect that level of dominance from Brasier, he is better than he is recognized for and is a solid middle reliever as a worst-case scenario. Brasier still has a high-octane fastball, plenty of high-leverage relief experience, and should be considerably cheaper than most relievers with similar résumés. He’s had a successful career as a two-pitch reliever and added a third weapon with the Dodgers last season as he started throwing a cutter as well.  He is under the radar and should not be, which makes him one of the rare free agents who could be worth more than what he will be paid.

Keegan Thompson, CHC

After a stellar 2022, Keegan Thompson had a terrible time of it in ’23. Going into last season, Thompson was seen as a potential mid-rotation starter and now is on the outside looking in, in terms of the Cubs 2024 roster.  Additionally, Thompson has one more option remaining, so he can be a depth piece and shuttled between AAA and the majors all of next season. Thompson is still fairly young and has a robust repertoire. I think it would pay off to have him settle into a full-time relief role instead of constantly messing around with his workload. He has the potential to be a Seth Lugo type of reliever, which, as we know, is extremely valuable and is also controllable for a few more seasons.

Lucas Sims, CIN

Now one full year removed from Tommy John rehabilitation, Sims was once a rising bullpen star and may be primed to reach a new level of success next season. Sims had a fine season in 2023, but a bloated walk rate kept him from being dominant. His walk rate was significantly higher than his career numbers and it is known that some pitchers have struggled with command during their first year back from TJ. In 2021 Sims had elite peripherals and is one step away from the upper crust of dominant relief pitchers. He is also a free agent following the 2024 season and could be a prime trade candidate for the Reds, as their window for contention is only starting to open.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Robert Stephenson & Jordan Hicks, FA

Both Stephenson and Hicks have endured extended bouts of inconsistency during their big league tenures, and giving them $10-15M annually over 3-5 seasons is almost as wild as Hicks’ command. While these two pitchers both had excellent ’23 seasons, are fairly young and have tantalizing stuff, the contracts they are seeking are far from commensurate with their success at the big league level. This is, therefore, a very risky investment that could backfire.  They both have the potential to be top relievers, but paying them as such does not make much sense for the Mets, especially at this point of their expedited rebuild.

Brent Honeywell, FA

Honyewell wouldn’t be the first former prospect to evolve into a dominant reliever.  While he is a far cry from that and is closer to a borderline major leaguer at the moment, he most certainly still possesses the traits that once made him a top prospect.  If he can be unlocked, he could turn his career around.  He has a four-pitch mix and still throws mid-90s, with the right level of confidence, tutelage and health Honeywell could become an above-average reliever or better.

Matt Moore, FA

Under the radar excellence the last couple of seasons, Matt Moore has finally turned his career around and looks like a real weapon out of the bullpen. Similarly to Honeywell, Moore was once a top prospect for the Rays, who fizzled out due to bad performance and many injuries. Yet now, he’s put back-to-back quality seasons together and should be in line for a decently sized contract. He even lowered his walk rate to a personal best of 6.9%, throws hard from the left side and has had sparkling ERAs the last couple of seasons. What’s not to like here?

Nate Pearson, TOR

Once a top-10 prospect in all of baseball, Pearson succumbed to the injury bug early on in his career before making the full-time transition to relief in 2023. Still armed with a high-90s fastball, Pearson may be worth a flier.  He has obvious potential and had a solid, if not unspectacular, season in ’23. He is a high-octane back-end reliever waiting to happen and this seems like the perfect time to buy low.  Toronto has a very good bullpen and Pearson may not even be able to crack it.  A change of scenery in which he can forget about failing to materialize his former pedigree and focus on being a dominant reliever may be exactly what he needs.

Sam Hentges, CLE

If Hentges was the setup man for a big market team, he’d be on his way to stardom. Yet, playing in lowly Cleveland, his name is hardly recognizable. Hentges has asserted himself as one of the top setup men in baseball and may even be the reason the Guardians would consider moving on from all-star closer, Emmanuel Clase. I would assume the Guardians would be reluctant to move him, but it pays to ask, as I see him becoming a Zack Britton type very soon. He is my preference out of all the relievers I have gone through, but with his potential price tag being one of the Mets’ better prospects, it probably won’t work out. A left-handed reliever who’s been dominant at times, throws very hard, and has an elite groundball rate, Hentges would be a phenomenal get, especially because he is controllable until 2028.

Jason Adam, Colin Poche, Andrew Kittredge & Shawn Armstrong, TBR

The Rays have a smorgasbord of arms, and each one of these four pitchers may be available in the right deal. These four once-unheralded journeymen pitchers have all surpassed expectations with the Rays and have turned themselves into weapons out of the bullpen. Kittredge and Armstrong are both free agents after this season and will not be resigning with the Rays, making them ideal trade candidates. Poche and Adam both had a little more team control but are both arbitration-eligible, and the Rays could look to cut ties and bring in younger, more affordable options. Finding the right fit here is key, as some Rays relievers go on to have lots of success elsewhere while others cannot replicate that magic in their new haunts.  Asking price will also be of significance as the Rays may not be overly eager to move any of them for the sake of moving them.

Many other names could be of interest, like Josh Winder-MIN, Alex Speas-TEX, and Luis Ortiz-PIT, for example, as well as some others. All of whom are capable arms who have not been consistent enough to stay in the Major Leagues.  Teams are constantly cycling through solid if unspectacular pitchers, a handful of whom end up being quite useful to teams looking hard enough. Going through the vast number of these kinds of pitchers is exactly what Stearns and Co. have been up to so far, and I am excited to see them continue to add a couple more names to the growing list of bullpen candidates.

The post Mets Offseason Outlook Part III: Finding Relief Pitching Vol. 2 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to 2019, players were eligible to be traded after the deadline, as long as they passed through revocable waivers. Essentially, players could be placed on revocable waivers, and other teams had the opportunity to claim them. Claims were awarded in reverse order of the standings, so the team with the worst record of the teams that claimed the player had the right to make a trade for that player. The player’s team could make the trade, or pull the player off waivers and keep him.

While some deals made in August prior to 2019 seemed like salary dumps, at least the original team received some compensation. Ken Rosenthal provided this example in an article in The Athletic:

The old August waiver period allowed for similar salary-shedding maneuvers, notably the blockbuster in which Adrián González, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford went from the Red Sox to the Dodgers in 2012. But those moves at least were trades, and the Red Sox received five players in that deal — James Loney plus four prospects, none of whom amounted to much.

The 2017 trade of Justin Verlander by the Tigers to the Astros would be another example of a star player traded in August after passing through waivers for a modest return.

Now, only irrevocable waivers may be used in August, and trades cannot be made. If a team claims a player on waivers, that player automatically goes to the claiming team, once again using the reverse order of the standings. The claiming team must then pay the player the remainder of that year’s salary, or approximately one-sixth of the contract amount. It’s understandable why teams that have fallen out of the race may use irrevocable waivers. If a player is earning $15 million for a season and is not signed beyond that season, the team can save $2.5 million. The league saw several waiver claims on August 31, including Harrison Bader, Hunter Renfroe, Matt Moore, Lucas Giolito, and former Met Dominic Leone.

Teams save money and players get the opportunity to hook up with contending teams — What’s the problem? Well, Rosenthal highlights a couple.

So, is Major League Baseball good with this? Good with the Angels attempting to purge nearly one-fourth of their roster in a pure salary dump? Good with the questions the moves raise about the sport’s competitive integrity? The treatment of fans who bought tickets to see the Angels play in the final month?

Rosenthal has a point. It’s one thing for a team to “go in another direction”, or our favorite as Mets fans, “re-purpose our investments.” Making trades to acquire younger players while moving veterans is run-of-mill in sports for non-contending teams. But saying, “Go ahead, take our players,  we don’t mind, plus we save money” has a different feel. It does impact the game’s competitive integrity, and it dampens fans’ enthusiasm to buy tickets in advance.

May 2: Rangers release Dominic Leone

May 4: Mets sign Leone

August 1: Mets trade Leone to Angels for prospect Jeremiah Jackson (#22 prospect in Mets’ system, per MLB Pipeline)

August 29: Angels place Leone on waivers

August 31: Mariners claim Leone off waivers pic.twitter.com/FGusabZqjC

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 31, 2023

Take the Angels, for example. They lost several players on waivers on August 31. Sure, they’re out of the race, but they will have a significant impact on the other races going on. From Rosenthal:

Consider how the Great Salary Dump of 2023, if this indeed turns into that (which it did), might affect the AL pennant race. The Angels have three games left against both leading AL East contenders (the Orioles and Rays) and AL Central contenders (Twins and Guardians), so no problem there. But in the West, they are done with the Astros yet face both the Mariners and Rangers three times.

Then there’s the fan’s angle. When people buy tickets in advance, they assume risk. They don’t know if the team will be in contention or not. However, a September game may be the only game a family can attend in a season. Maybe the kids were excited to see a local product, like Bader. Maybe he was their favorite player. The team saw an opportunity to dump salary and did so. Okay, fine. But it’s hard to imagine how that family would be inclined to buy tickets in advance again. Is allowing trade-free salary dumps really the look MLB is seeking to have?

The August waiver process can be exciting for teams who add players. Fans can be energized. But like anything else, there are two sides to this coin. Baseball must maintain its competitive integrity and fan relations. This may not be consistent with those objectives.

Time will tell if late August is an interesting time with select players moving on waivers, or if teams take greater advantage of the opportunity to off-load salaries, and competitive integrity is impacted significantly.

The post MLB’s Newest Trend: The August Salary Dump appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that according to sources, the Los Angeles Angels placed starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, relief pitchers Matt Moore and Reynaldo Lopez, and outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Randal Grichuk on waivers. All five players would be eligible to be claimed by teams for free on Thursday.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted other players currently on waivers:

• Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader
• Mets right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco
• White Sox right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger
• Tigers right-handed pitcher Jose Cisnero

Carlos Carrasco. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

The Brooklyn Cyclones announced on Tuesday that the Mets’ No. 5 prospect, Kevin Parada, has been promoted from High-A to Double-A Binghamton. He hit .265/ .340/ .887, with a 115 wRC+ in High-A, splitting his time between the plate and serving as a designated hitter for Brooklyn. Parada joins Drew Gilbert, Luisangel Acuña, among other prospects in Double-A.

Metsmerized Online elaborated on the transaction noting that Parada made his Double-A debut on Tuesday and was batting third. Early into the game he had already thrown out a runner trying to steal second, a great start for the catching prospect.

Per Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline, the Mets have assigned left-handed pitcher Tyler Jay to Double-A Binghamton.  Jay has not pitched in the minor leagues since 2019 but had been in the Frontier League the past couple seasons. He had seven saves, a 4.26 ERA, 64 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 57 innings pitched for Joliet over the course of the Summer.

According to Metsmerized executive editor Michael Mayer, both Abraham Almonte and Adam Kolarek cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse. Kolarek elected free agency.

Latest MLB News

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the New York Yankees announced that they have released third baseman Josh Donaldson.

Per Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic, the Tampa Bay Rays have signed right-handed pitcher Chris Devenski to a major league contract and placed him on the bereavement list.

Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reported that Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran will be undergoing season-ending toe surgery on Wednesday, ending his 2023 campaign.

Latest on MMO

Nick Rucco wraps up the week of Mets’ minor league affiliate action in a Mets minors weekly report that included notes on Jett Williams shining and “awards abounding” in Binghamton.

Sam Neumann recaps Tylor Megill’s best start of the 2023 season from Monday.

Chris Bello poses the question of whether Brandon Nimmo’s home run first approach has led to his increased success.

Patrick Glynn discusses Kevin Parada’s promotion to Double-A Binghamton.

Michelle Ioannou and the Metsmerized staff discuss whether they believe Noah Syndergaard should be a Met again in an MMO roundtable.

Jorge Edkardt discusses the Mets placing Carlos Carrasco on waivers, along with the news of the Angels putting Leone and Giolito on waivers.

On This Date in Mets History

1999: The Mets struck for a record 17 runs in a 17-1 win over the Astros in the Astrodome. They had 21 hits between all of the position players. Edgardo Alfonzo was the star, however, exploding for six hits and six runs in six at-bats. He had a double and three home runs. 

The post Morning Briefing: Carrasco, Giolito, Others Placed on Waivers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Good morning, Mets fans!

The Angels have signed free agent left-hander Matt Moore, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported. The 33-year-old was surprisingly effective in his 74 innings with the Rangers last year, posting a 1.95 ERA. Moore was a potential option for the Mets to target, but they ended up acquiring plenty of reinforcements elsewhere to amend their rotation.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

In the first bit of news out of spring training, newly signed pitcher Kodai Senga, in his first action in Mets camp, threw 52 pitches and hit 96 mph on the gun during his first bullpen outing. For more on his outing and how Senga will have to adjust to major league pitching, our own Michael Mayer dove deeper into the Japanese pitcher’s outing.

For the first time in about 30 years, Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, the spring training home of the Mets, has seen its first on-field renovation. Drainage issues were affecting the on-field performance of the ball and the players, so the field itself was replaced. In addition to the raised field, retention walls were added, the outfield fence was swapped out and the bullpens were moved off the field as well as the field’s surface got a much-needed makeover.

Mets GM Billy Eppler discusses with the New York Post his first impressions of Justin Verlander, Senga the growth of upcoming prospects and Carlos Beltran‘s new role with the organization.

Tim Healey of Newsday highlights the bullpen session of pitcher Tylor Megill. Healey notes that Megill has slimmed down about 15 pounds from his weight from last season.

Former Mets broadcaster Tim McCarver passed away at the age of 81. The team released a tweet remembering McCarver, as he was a major part of the team’s broadcasts during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Latest MLB News

Marlins GM Kim Ng officially hired former Mets manager Terry Collins as a baseball consultant, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reported.

Corbin Burnes talked about how his relationship with the Brewers was hurt by what happened in his arbitration hearing.

The Padres signed Cole Hamels to a minor league deal, according to Robert Murray of FanSided.

The Red Sox signed infielder Yu Chang to a one-year deal, the team announced.

The Phillies signed Seranthony Dominguez to a two-year extension, POBO David Dombrowski announced.

Shohei Ohtani hasn’t discussed his future with the Angels, according to Jeff Fletcher of SoCal News Group.

Speaking of Ohtani, the Angels announced that he will pitch on opening day.

Dana Brown told Scott Boras that he wants Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman to play the rest of their careers in Houston, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reported.

Former major leaguer Victor Martínez has joined the Blue Jays’ front office as a special assistant, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Latest on MMO

MMO Interview: New Mets Radio Voice Keith Raad

FOCO Releases Mets Spring Training Themed Bobbleheads

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Stephen Tarpley (30), Juan Padilla (46), Roger Craig (93)

The post Morning Briefing: Angels Sign Matt Moore appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Edwin Díaz. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Entering free agency and the off-season, two areas of the Mets’ roster needed to be completely rebuilt. The first was the rotation, and the other, the bullpen. Apparently, general manager Billy Eppler and the front office were well aware of the need to rebuild the ‘pen as they have already added several pieces. Though, despite that, when projecting out how the bullpen currently stands, it is clear that New York should continue to add to the unit.

What Have They Done So Far?

The team re-signed the best closer in baseball, Edwin Díaz, to a monster five-year, $102-million deal. They also brought in the likes of David Robertson (free agency) and left-hander Brooks Raley (trade), as well as re-signed Adam Ottavino.

New York also made several other minor additions that should help bring depth or potentially fill a remaining hole in the bullpen with a strong spring. These additions consist of Jeff Brigham, Stephen Ridings, and Tayler Saucedo. The team also brought in former starter Elieser Hernández, who could potentially be used out of the ‘pen.

How Does The Bullpen Currently Project?

Normally, teams usually carry around seven-to-eight relief pitchers on their roster. As it currently stands, the bullpen looks as such:

• Closer: Edwin Díaz
• Set-Up: David Robertson
• 7th-8th Inning: Adam Ottavino
• Middle Relief: Drew Smith
• Left-Handed Option: Brooks Raley
• Long-Relief/Spot-Starter: David Peterson / Joey Lucchesi / Elieser Hernández

This leaves one or two more spots to be filled. Could the Mets just opt to stick internally and fill out the remainder of the bullpen that way? Potentially. If so, what would their options be?

John Curtiss. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Remaining Internal Options

As mentioned, the Mets brought in a plethora of outside talent that may be able to win a spot in the bullpen out of camp. These consist of the aforementioned Jeff Brigham, Stephen Ridings, and Tayler Saucedo.

Brigham had a nice season in Miami last year, posting a 3.38 ERA and 3.65 FIP across 24 innings. Meanwhile, Ridings was injured most of the season, but has shown high-strikeout potential (42 strikeouts in 29 minor-league innings in 2021). Additionally, Saucedo has always struggled in the big leagues as a left-handed specialist (5.40 career ERA in 28 1/3 innings)

Familiar faces the Mets can turn to consist of Tylor Megill, John Curtiss, Stephen Nogosek, or Bryce Montes de Oca. Megill has history as a starter, but his pitch makeup might make him a better fit as a reliever. Though, when the Mets tried that last season, it did not go well. Meanwhile, Nogosek (career 5.35 FIP across 31 2/3 major-league innings) and Montes de Oca (four runs and seven hits across 3 1/3 innings last season) appeared in the major leagues for the Mets last season as well.

Curtiss is an intriguing option, as the Mets signed him in 2021 knowing he would not participate in 2022 given his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. Throughout his career, Curtiss has served as a back-end of the bullpen arm, and has done so well. He owns a 3.63 career ERA and 3.79 career FIP across 86 2/3 career innings pitched.

Do The Mets Really Need More?

Here are how the bullpens of the 10 most recent World Series champions ranked in the regular season based on ERA:

• 2022: Houston Astros – 1st
• 2021: Atlanta Braves – 12th (3rd in the postseason)
• 2020: Los Angeles Dodgers – 2nd
• 2019: Washington Nationals – 29th
• 2018: Boston Red Sox – 8th (2nd in the postseason)
• 2017: Houston Astros – 17th
• 2016: Chicago Cubs – 9th 
• 2015: Kansas City Royals – 2nd
• 2014: San Francisco Giants – 5th
• 2013: Boston Red Sox – 21st
• 2012: San Francisco Giants – 15th

Bottom-line, unless your are the 2013 Boston Red Sox or the 2019 Washington Nationals, World Series winning teams and stellar bullpens are directly correlated over the past 10 seasons. The average rank of the above team’s ERA over the past 10 years is around 12th. Take out the two outliers (’13 Red Sox and ’19 Nationals) that average jumps to around 9th.

It is no secret, great teams have great bullpens. As it stands, on paper, it is fair to say the Mets’ bullpen is good. Though, given the remaining couple holes, the word “great” should not apply yet. Add at least one more external arm, and it would not be crazy to call the Mets’ projected 2023 bullpen as one of the league’s best.

Andrew Chafin. Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

External Options

Despite being deep into the off-season, there are still a plethora of solid bullpen arms remaining on the market. Some of those potential options are below:

Andrew Chafin

Chafin is someone that has been tied to the Mets for a while. He would give New York another strong, reliable left-handed arm in their bullpen. Opposing left-handed hitters own a lifetime .222 batting average and .603 OPS against Chafin.

Michael Fulmer

The 2011 Mets’ first-round pick has emerged as a reliable reliever. In his first season as a full-time reliever, Fulmer posted a 3.39 ERA and 3.57 FIP across 63 2/3 innings last season.

Matt Moore

Used as a pure reliever for the first time, the left-handed Moore may have revitalized his career last season. Across 74 innings, he posted an absurd 1.95 ERA. Moore’s FIP of 2.98 shows he was legit. He also saw an increase in his strikeout rate (83 across 74 innings) and held opposing left-handed hitters to a .634 OPS.

David Phelps

The former Miami Marlins’ starting pitcher turned in a career year as a reliever last season with Toronto. He was a workhorse, appearing in 65 games. Across the 63 2/3 innings he threw, he posted a 2.83 ERA and 3.16 FIP.

Luke Jackson

Jackson turned in a career year with rival Atlanta Braves last season. He posted a career-best 1.98 ERA and struck out 70 over 63 2/3 innings. He does own a career FIP of almost 4.00, but has three solid seasons under his belt.

Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Brad Hand

In 2021, the Mets claimed Hand off waivers and he pitched to a 2.70 ERA in 16 games for them that season. Last year, he played well with Philadelphia posting a 2.80 ERA and 3.93 FIP across 45 innings. He is another potential second left-handed option for the Mets’ bullpen to add.

Other Options: Alex Reyes, Corey Knebel, Will Smith

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Mets’ front office has done a great job of rebuilding the bullpen thus far. They are certainly on the right track, though, adding one more arm would make a comfortably above-average bullpen into a great one. Luckily for them, as the above outlines, there are still several solid options on the market that would easily be an upgrade over what their options are currently internally.

The post Mets Need To Continue To Add To The Bullpen appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Matt Moore

Age: 33 (6/18/1989)
B/T: L/L
2022 Traditional Stats: 63 G, 5-2 record, 74 IP, 1.95 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 83 SO, 38 BB
2022 Advanced Stats: 203 ERA+, 2.98 FIP, 10.1 SO/9, 27.3 SO%, 12.5 BB%, 2.4 bWAR

Rundown

Matt Moore experienced a career revival in 2022. The once-promising starter had been in the midst of a lengthy downfall spanning years in which he could simply not return to the form he displayed in his first few years in the league. Though in his career he experienced multiple season-ending injuries and even a year-long stint in Nippon Professional Baseball, Moore persevered and made the most of his 2022 season with the Texas Rangers.

Moore began his career with the Tampa Bay Rays. Though not a high draft pick, he signed with the organization and worked his way up through the Minor Leagues, excelling at each level he pitched at. He made his Major League debut in September of 2011 and spent parts of six seasons with the club.

Though his rookie season in 2012 was impressive, in which he recorded an 11-11 record with a 3.81 ERA, Moore’s best season came in 2013. With a 17-4 record and a 3.29 ERA, Moore pitched well enough to earn his first All-Star nod. Unfortunately for him, his season was cut short due to a sore left elbow. This injury would follow him into the next season which he missed almost the entire year, having to undergo Tommy John surgery. He never fully recovered from this injury, struggling mightily when he returned, and eventually, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline in 2016.

After this trade, Moore failed to find his footing again. He lost a season-high 15 games in 2017, struggled mightily as a hybrid starter/reliever with the Rangers in 2018, and missed almost the entire 2019 season with the Tigers after undergoing meniscus surgery. This brutal stretch of poor performance and bad injury luck could have been enough for Moore to say goodbye to the game but he never gave up. He signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball and helped the team to a Japan Series victory.

Earning another chance in Major League Baseball, Moore suffered a brutal 2021 with the Phillies before signing a Minor League contract with the Rangers in 2022, his second stint in the organization. Somehow, someway, his career completely turned around. Becoming a full-time reliever for the first time in his career, Moore kept a sub-2.00 ERA in 74 innings pitched with Texas and was one of the most reliable high-leverage relievers in baseball. Now a free agent, Moore will hope he can parlay this performance into a nice payday.

Moore, a lefty, throws a four-seam fastball, a changeup, a curveball, and a cutter. He’s not a particularly fast thrower, with his fastest pitch in the mid-to-low 90s, and control issues have been his weakness for the majority of his career. Last year with the Rangers, he issued 4.6 walks per nine innings and averages 3.8 walks per nine over his career. Despite these weaknesses, Moore showed last year his tendency to limit the home run and base hits overall, giving him a shining ERA and WHIP that will certainly be attractive to teams looking to bolster their bullpen this offseason.

Contract

Considering his age and injury history, Moore’s ceiling in free agency is limited. Spotrac.com estimates his market value to be $3.3 million in average annual salary. They also estimate he will get a two-year contract for a total of about $6.7 million. Considering his performance this past year and the fact that he made $2.5 million in his lone stint with the Rangers, this type of deal seems like it would be a bargain.

As we have seen this free agency, however, teams are willing to spend big more than ever. For a reliever like Moore who excelled in late-inning, high-leverage situations last year, it’s possible that he could have multiple teams interested in him which would drive up his value. Any team that signs him will be betting that Moore continues his spectacular 2022 performance into 2023 and perhaps 2024 as well.

Recommendation

One of the most glaring needs the Mets had last season was a left-handed reliever. In a division with several skilled left-handed hitters such as Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Matt Olson, and Michael Harris, it is of the utmost importance to have a left-handed reliever who can come in the game and get these guys out. The Mets have already started addressing this issue this offseason with the acquisition of Brooks Raley and the likely movement of David Peterson to the bullpen.

But the Mets shouldn’t stop there. The bullpen still has holes needing to be filled and Moore should be considered a candidate to fill one of those holes. His price tag wouldn’t be an issue for Steve Cohen and he could immediately come in and be a middle relief option or setup man ahead of David Robertson and Edwin Diaz.

Of course, the Mets could believe that his injury history provides too much of a risk. But part of the Mets’ process this offseason has been building up depth which they have lacked for some time. In some of the more under-the-radar moves the Mets have made this offseason to add reliever depth, the team acquired Jeff Brigham from the Marlins, signed Jimmy Yacabonis, Sean Reid-Foley and Tommy Hunter to Minor League contracts, and selected Zach Greene with a Rule 5 draft pick. That being said, the Mets shouldn’t worry about the risk of injury for Moore. If they believe he can make an instant impact out of the bullpen for the team in 2023, they should make every effort they can to sign him.

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Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

One of the questions surrounding the 2022 season for the New York Mets was the decision not to bolster the bullpen with a left-handed reliever at the trade deadline. Now, the Mets will get a chance to do so this off-season, in a market that has some strong options. Who are the top southpaw reliever on the market?

Andrew Chafin

The Mets really struggled to replace Aaron Loup in 2022 and none of the options they resorted to as a backup plan really worked out consistency. You can’t contend for a World Series with a compromised bullpen and that’s why free agent Andrew Chafin should be a priority target. Linked with the Mets before, Chafin has put together a couple of really good seasons together consecutively and he arguably headlines the lefty reliever market this off-season.

Chafin posted a stellar 1.83 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings for both the Athletics and the Tigers in 2021, and he was impressive again in 2022 with a 2.84 ERA, 3.06 FIP and 67 strikeouts to only 19 walks in 57 1/3 innings. The veteran’s biggest weapon in 2022 was his filthy slider, which generated a very impressive 60.4% swing-and-miss rate in 2022.

The track record is there too. Over a six season span dating back to 2017, Chafin boasts a 3.05 ERA, 3.3 walks per nine, and 10.2 strikeouts per nine, to go along with a 4.9 fWAR. The lefty would be the ideal target to really kickstart a much-needed rebuild of this bullpen. Chafin is tried and tested in the majors and his arm would give the Mets a huge advantage in high-leverage situations late in games throughout 2023.

Photo by Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Moore

After Chafin, the lefty reliever market takes a bit of a hit but there are still some solid options out there, including Matt Moore, who is coming off a hugely eye-catching season with the Texas Rangers. After signing a minor-league deal worth $2.5 million in Texas last year, Moore proceeded to weave his own revenge tour and he’s now set himself up for a nice payday this winter.

In 63 appearances over 74 innings, the former starter posted a 1.95 ERA with a 1.176 WHIP, a 2.4 WAR, and 83 strikeouts with five saves. Moore excelled against right-handed batters with a .537 OPS and, while he had a .634 OPS against lefties. Though, he was still able to get both out on a regular basis and his changeup proved to be a reliable weapon in 2022 with 45.7% whiff rate and a 22.4% put away rate.

If Chafin comes off the board quickly, then Moore wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize for the Mets and he would provide an elite arm coming out of the bullpen, an arm that is probably better than any of the lefty relievers the team relied on last year.

Taylor Rogers

As already mentioned, the lefty reliever market lacks considerable depth this off-season and that is hardly a help for a team like the Mets who are in real need of high-leverage arms to come out of the bullpen. However, there are intriguing pieces out there and one such player that fits into that category is Taylor Rogers.

Rogers became a lynchpin of the Minnesota Twins’ bullpen from 2016 through to 2021, before being dealt to the Padres where he racked up 17 saves with an untouchable 0.44 ERA through 20 innings of incredible ball. However, the veteran soon saw his play fall off a cliff and he was left with a bloated and ugly 6.75 ERA. Rogers was then dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the Josh Hader trade at the trade deadline, but he put up a 5.48 ERA in 23 innings pitched for the Brewers down the stretch.

As a result, Rogers now enters free agency with his stock at an all-time low and having to deal with questions over whether he still has filthy stuff. However, still just 31-years-old, Rogers’ under-the-hood numbers in 2022 actually paint a slightly different story and give hope that last year was just a one-off.

His 11.75 K/9 strikeout rate was the second-highest mark of his career, and it also ranked in the 90th percentile in all of baseball. His swing-and-miss generation ranked in the 84th percentile. His FIP and xFIP of 3.32 and 3.26 also paint a picture of some considerable bad luck.

Having proved he could also stay healthy in 2022, Rogers has appeal has a high-leverage arm that can come out of the bullpen in clutch situations and deal filthy stuff, and maybe take some of the pressure off of Diaz in the process. Spotrac.com has Rogers’ average annual salary at $13.1 million. Given his struggles on the surface last season, it is likely a new deal may check in comfortably below that figure. If the Mets can get the seven-year vet on a short-term deal, he could prove to be a bargain as a high-end lefty arm able to deliver in big moments both in the regular season and in the playoffs.

The post Free Agent Left-Handed Relievers That The Mets Should Target appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Position: LHP
Bats/Throws: L/L
Age: 6/18/1989 (33)

Traditional Stats: 33 G, 4-2, 1.61 ERA, 1.209 WHIP, 50 K, 44.2 IP
Advanced Stats:  1.0 fWAR, 2.57 FIP,  2.51 xERA, 13.0 BB%, 27.2 K%

Rundown

Yes, that same Matt Moore that pitched to a 6.29 ERA, 4.89 xERA, and 5.76 FIP last season with Philadelphia. The former All-Star, who is now 33 years old, has completely revitalized his career for the time being. Moore threw five scoreless Triple-A innings this season before being called back up to the majors. He has shined with the Texas Rangers ever since.

In his bullpen role, the left-handed relief pitcher has pitched to career bests so far this season. Yes, a smaller sample size in the context of his career overall, but 44 2/3 innings of terrific work is nothing to bat an eye at. He has put up starling numbers across the board: 1.61 ERA, 2.51 xERA, and 2.57 FIP. He is also striking out a career-high 27.2% of hitters (of the eighth seasons he has pitched at least 11 innings). Moore has also yet to allow a home run this season.

Snippet via Baseball Savant.

A deeper dive into the analytics show just how effective Moore has been. As the above points out, Moore is in an elite tier in terms of percentile rankings among his peers. The most noticeable being how often he is inducing swing-and-misses as well as chases from the hitters he is facing. These aspects are generating one of the highest strikeout rates of Moore’s career.

He is also blending the use of his four-seam fastball (86th percentile in spin rate) and curveball extremely well. He is throwing each pitch 43% of the time and each are generating xBA below .200. Moore also works in a changeup that has been borderline un-hittable as evident by the pitch’s BA of .100 and xBA of .114. These filthy pitches, in return, are resulting in hitters being unable to barrel up the ball (97th percentile) and create hard contact (95th percentile hard hit rate).

All this soft contact, and inability to make any contact at all, has resulted in terrific numbers. Opponents are only hitting .191 against Moore this season. The xBA figure of .178 indicates this number is legit and not a beneficiary of any good luck. In total, opposing hitters are slugging a meager .191/.299/.236 against Moore which is good for an OPS of .535. The league average OPS this year is .708.

As for his splits, over his career as a whole they have been revered. Right-handed hitters have a career BA of .250 against Moore, while left-handed hitters .270. This year has been more of the same evident by the .170 BA against righties and .235 against lefties. Regardless, this season Moore is getting basically everyone out.

There are some concerns with Moore. First off, he has had some issues with walks at points this season. His 13% walk rate this year is the highest of his career. The walk rate also ranks in the league’s sixth percentile, which further demonstrates the struggles with command at points.

Lastly, as mentioned above, 44 1/3 innings is a decent sample size, though Moore is less than a year removed from a disastrous 2021 season. He also has not posted an ERA below 4.00 in a season since 2014. Regression, despite the numbers not pointing to any this year specifically, is always a risk with a player who turns around a career like this so quickly.

Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

Potential Package

Moore signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Rangers in the offseason. He is an unrestricted free agent at year’s end. So, he is a pure rental. Despite the terrific numbers and the fact he is one of the better left-handed reliever options on the market, his price should not be high at all.

Projecting trades is always a difficult task. A best guess at what it would take to pry the former Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (Japan League) from the Rangers is a mid-to-high C-level prospect. As mentioned, given his pending free agent status, he should not cost much of anything. He’ll likely get traded to the team that offers the best prospect in the Rangers’ eyes.

Final Thoughts

It is no secret the Mets need a left-handed addition to their bullpen. Chasen Shreve was ultimately released, and Joely Rodríguez‘s (5.93 ERA/4.01 xERA/3.97 FIP) season certainly has not gone as expected. Ultimately, to address this need, the Mets’ first choice (trade profile here) should be Andrew Chafin (2.31 ERA/2.32 xERA/3.23 FIP). Though, if Billy Eppler and the team either get outbid, or do not want to spend the most likely more expensive price, Moore would be a terrific consolation prize.

Despite his splits being reversed, Moore has shown the capabilities to get both right-handed and left-handed hitters out. He has done terrific work this year thus far and the underlying analytics back up the surface statistics. Heck, he has yet to give up a long ball this season. Furthermore, Moore would also come as a very cheap option that could provide tremendous value to a Mets’ bullpen that certainly needs it.

Note, the above percentile statistics are via Baseball Savant.

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