2024 Traditional Stats: 32 G (4 starts), 44 IP, 4.30 ERA, 1.341 WHIP, 3-8, 45 K, 23 BB
2024 Advanced Stats: 101 ERA+, 23.6% K%, 12.0% BB%, 3.41 xERA, 3.62 FIP, 4.32 xFIP, 0.6 fWAR, 0.0 bWAR

Rundown

A.J. Puk‘s season got off to a disastrous start. After a solid year in Miami’s bullpen, he began the year in the starting rotation and got shelled for 14 earned runs on 19 hits with 17 walks in 13 2/3 innings across four starts. Opponents battered him for a .328/.481/.534 slash line before he landed on the injured list on April 20 with left shoulder fatigue.

Upon his return, the Marlins shifted Puk back to the bullpen, and he’s produced strong results since. In 28 games since being activated, Puk has a 2.08 ERA and a 0.758 WHIP with 30 strikeouts against just six walks over 28 2/3 innings. Puk has held opponents to a .456 OPS during that time and hasn’t yielded an earned run in 25 of his 28 outings.

Puk’s best pitch this year has been his four-seamer, with opponents slugging just .188 with a .211 xSLG with no homers against the pitch. However, Puk averaged just 93.3 miles per hour on his fastball as a starter, and since moving to the bullpen, his fastball has averaged 96 MPH. His whiff rate on his four-seamer has jumped to 34.4% and 33.3% on his sinker. While Puk’s sweeper and splitter were both hit hard early in the season, he’s effectively ditched both pitches, and his slider has generated an xSLG of under .200 with a whiff rate near 50%.

Puk has always had strong numbers against left-handed hitters, but he’s been especially dominant against them since returning, holding them to a .136/.174/.205 batting line with 16 strikeouts in 47 plate appearances. Righties haven’t fared much better against him, batting .175/.224/.286 with a .227 wOBA in 67 plate appearances.

Package

Puk is making $1.8 million this year through arbitration and won’t become a free agent until after the 2026 season. His price may also be inflated due to the Marlins’ also being in the NL East, but the teams linked up for a trade last summer when David Robertson was sent to Miami. The Mets received a pair of organizational top-30 prospects (Ronald Hernandez and Marco Vargas) for Robertson, who was a rental, which makes it reasonable to believe that Miami may want more in return for Puk.

Mets Receive:

• A.J. Puk

Marlins Receive:

• Dom Hamel (Mets No. 13 prospect via MLB Pipeline, No. 10 via BA)
• Nick Morabito (Mets No. 25 prospect via MLB Pipeline, unranked via BA)

While Hamel has struggled a bit this season, he performed well in both 2022 and 2023, and could potentially reach the majors later this season. Morabito, meanwhile, is amid his second straight season batting over .300 and has stolen 38 bases between Low-A and High-A this year. With his strong plate discipline, Morabito profiles as a top-of-the-order bat in the future.

Recommendation

The bullpen is the Mets’ biggest area of need still, owning an ugly 5.93 ERA in the month of July. Trading for Puk could help the Mets beyond 2024, too, as he and Edwin Díaz could form a strong back-end duo for the team. Puk also has closing experience, making him the primary option if Díaz needs a day off or if lefties are due to hit in a save situation. While it may cost more to make a trade with a division rival, Puk’s success as a reliever and his years of club control make him worth the cost.

The post Trade Profile: A.J. Puk, LHP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Edwin Díaz: C

This has felt a lot like a Murphy’s Law season for Edwin Díaz. He had a 0.93 ERA after his outing on April 28, but over his next 10 appearances, he got tagged for 11 earned runs, gave up four homers, and blew four of his five save opportunities. In late May, Díaz was placed on the injured list, where he spent three weeks. 10 days after returning from the IL, though, Díaz was suspended for 10 games for having a foreign substance on his hand.

While Díaz still hasn’t been quite like the 2022 version of himself, he’s looked better since returning from injury, converting five of his six save opportunities and not allowing an earned run over 6 2/3 innings. As expected, Díaz has lost some velocity off his fastball and slider, and his 2.89 xERA, 2.96 xFIP, and 22.7% HR/FB rate indicate he’s been a bit unlucky.

Reed Garrett: C+

Reed Garrett got off to a rip-roaring start, allowing just one earned run and striking out 28 of the 61 batters he faced in April. Since May 16, however, Garrett has a 6.86 ERA and has given up five homers in 21 innings. Furthermore, Garrett has allowed 12 of his 21 inherited runners to score. He was placed on the injured list on July 9 with elbow inflammation. Garrett still has a strong 34.2% strikeout rate, but his 12% walk rate is a cause for concern. Garrett has particularly struggled to pitch with fewer than two days in between outings (7.47 ERA), which will be something Carlos Mendoza will need to be careful with in the second half.

Photo by Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

Dedniel Núñez: A

Dedniel Núñez has been nothing short of fantastic in 2024. He has a 2.35 ERA/2.38 FIP with a 34.2% strikeout rate against just a 4.4% walk rate in 30 2/3 innings. Nuñez’s 2.24 xERA and 2.41 xFIP indicate there are reasons to believe he can keep his success going in the second half of the season. The 28-year-old has stranded all 12 of his inherited runners and has held opponents to just .281 OPS with runners in scoring position. Expect to see Níñez continue to get chances in high-leverage situations down the stretch.

Adam Ottavino: D

In his third season in Flushing, Adam Ottavino posted a 1.54 ERA through his first 11 appearances, but he’s struggled to a 6.56 ERA since May 4. It’s been a bit of an odd year for the 38-year-old – his strikeout rate is back over 30%, his walk rate is down to 8.5%, and his hard-hit rate has dropped from 40.7% to 33.7%. However, his ground-ball rate has plummeted from 54.9% to 43.0% and his opponents’ BABiP has risen from .255 to .317. Ottavino’s 2.96 xERA, 3.59 FIP, and 3.71 xFIP suggest that he could turn his season around in the second half, but he has a long way to go before he can reclaim his role as a high-leverage reliever.

Jake Diekman: F

Serving as the only lefty in the bullpen for much of the year, Jake Diekman’s time in Flushing has been anything but smooth sailing. He’s posted a career-worst 5.53 ERA and issued 22 walks in 27 2/3 innings. Much like Ottavino, Diekman pitched well through his first dozen appearances of the season, but since May 5, he’s appeared in 27 games and has an ugly 6.88 ERA, allowing five homers with 15 walks in 17 innings.

Diekman has been torched for a .915 OPS in high-leverage situations and has a 10.80 ERA in save situations. His 62.2% strand rate is the worst mark of his career, as is his 1.6 HR/9, though his 27.8% HR/FB ratio seems rather unsustainable.

Adrian Houser: C-

Adrian Houser’s Mets tenure got off to a disastrous start, posting an 8.16 ERA in five starts before getting moved to the bullpen. Houser made a brief return to the rotation on May 21 but was moved back to the bullpen after getting shelled by the Guardians for six runs in five innings. While he’s struggled in his first two appearances in July, Houser has a respectable 3.09 ERA in 32 innings as a reliever, striking out 22 batters against 10 walks. Even if he isn’t a high-leverage arm, Houser’s ability to give the team some length out of the bullpen has been a boost for Carlos Mendoza.

Photo by Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

José Buttó: A

José Buttó pitched well as a member of the Mets’ rotation early in the season, posting a 3.08 ERA in 38 innings, but he was optioned to Triple-A once David Peterson returned from injury. Buttó was recalled from Syracuse at the beginning of July as a reliever, and the early returns have been strong. Across four appearances, Buttó has tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just two hits and three walks, striking out eight, and holding opponents to just a .291 OPS.

Buttó has recorded at least four outs in each of his relief appearances, earning three wins and recording his first big league save on July 10 against the Nationals. Carlos Mendoza indicated that Buttó will stick around on the major league roster in the second half, and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the bullpen as the playoff race heats up.

Danny Young: C

Danny Young’s Mets career got off to a strong start, posting a 0.87 ERA with 12 strikeouts through his first 10 appearances after debuting on May 2. However, he allowed multiple earned runs in three consecutive outings to end June, raising his ERA to 5.11 and earning himself a trip back to Triple-A Syracuse. Young was recalled on July 11, and he’s tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings over three appearances, bringing his season ERA to 4.30. Southpaws are batting .304 against the sidearming lefty, though he’s allowed just one extra-base hit to them in 26 plate appearances.

While Young doesn’t throw particularly hard, his sweeper has been very effective, registering a 49.2% whiff rate. With Jake Diekman struggling, there’s reason to believe Young will stay on the big league roster unless the team acquires another lefty. (They claimed lefty Alex Young on Wednesday)

Sean Reid-Foley: B

After pitching in just 17 2/3 innings in the last two seasons, Sean Reid-Foley got off to a nice start in 2024 before landing on the injured list in late June. He’s pitched to a 1.66 ERA/2.79 FIP with 25 strikeouts without allowing a homer in 21 2/3 innings. Walks have been an issue for Reid-Foley’s entire career, and this year has been no different, posting a 15.6% walk rate. However, he owns a strong 62.7% ground-ball rate and just a 21.6% fly-ball rate.

While he’s lost a little velocity off his fastball, opponents have just a .221 xSLG against it and an eye-popping 68.8% whiff rate against his slider. Reid-Foley’s 2.83 xERA, 2.79 FIP, and 3.68 xFIP indicate that he can remain an effective relief option if he stays healthy.

Previous Report Card: Position Players

The post Mets 2024 First Half Report Card: Relievers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

2024 Traditional Stats: 27 G, 25 IP, 3.24 ERA, 1.040 WHIP, 1-1, 22 K, 8 BB
2024 Advanced Stats: 121 ERA+, 22.2% K%, 8.1% BB%, 4.07 xERA, 4.96 FIP, 4.37 xFIP, -0.2 fWAR, 0.5 bWAR

Rundown

A 16th-round pick in 2016, Colin Poche debuted with the Rays in 2019 but missed all of the 2020 and 2021 seasons after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. He appeared in at least 65 games in 2022 and 2023, having the best year of his career a season ago. Poche posted a career-best 2.23 ERA in 60 2/3 innings in 2023, striking out 61 batters and only allowing four homers.

The 30-year-old got off to a rocky start in 2024, owning a 6.75 ERA on April 23 before spending six weeks on the injured list with mid-back tightness. Since getting activated on June 8, though, Poche has posted a 1.15 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 15 2/3 innings while holding opponents to just a .443 OPS.

Home runs have been an issue for Poche for most of his career, including 2024, as he’s given up five long balls in 25 innings. Poche’s batted-ball data suggests he may be getting a little lucky. He’s never induced ground balls at a very high rate, and his 30.4% grounder rate is down from 33.8% a year ago. Opponents are also making harder contact against Poche, with his hard-hit rate jumping from 31.3% to 43.5% and average exit velocity rising from 87.2 MPH to 92.0.

Poche has been a two-pitch pitcher for the last two seasons, relying on a four-seam fastball and a slider. While his fastball velocity is down just over a mile per hour and doesn’t generate many whiffs, it has a plus-3 run value. His slider has been his strikeout pitch, registering a 43.1% whiff rate and 37.9% strikeout rate.

Poche has a track record of success against both lefties and righties, but he’s been torched by southpaws in a limited sample size this season, allowing a .296/.387/.556 batting line in 31 plate appearances this season. However, he’s held righties to a weak .523 OPS in 68 plate appearances.

Package

After 2024, Poche has one more year of club control before hitting free agency. It’s hard to imagine the Rays demanding a huge return for a non-closing reliever, especially one who’s already missed time this year due to injury. Poche is making $2.375 million this year and is arbitration-eligible this offseason.

In the 2022-23 offseason, the Mets swung a trade with the Rays for Brooks Raley, giving up left-handed pitching prospect Keyshawn Askew, who wasn’t ranked in the team’s top 30 prospects at the end of the year. Raley was also a controllable arm, but Poche is four years younger than Raley was at the time, which may increase his cost.

Mets Receive:

• Colin Poche

Rays Receive:

• Raimon Gomez (Mets No. 27 Prospect via MLB Pipeline)

Gomez is recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he has a live arm with a fastball that can touch triple digits.

Recommendation

The Mets already made one trade this year with the Rays to acquire Phil Maton, and they could use all the arms they could get. Even during the team’s recent hot stretch, the Mets’ bullpen has struggled badly, posting a major league-worst 7.49 ERA since July 1.

With Brooks Raley out for the season, Jake Diekman has been the team’s only lefty in the bullpen for most of the year, and he’s posted an underwhelming 5.33 ERA with 22 walks in 27 2/3 innings. While acquiring Poche might not be the flashiest move, it would address the team’s glaring need for another lefty to shore up their bullpen.

Poche has been a high-leverage reliever for most of his career, and he likely will not cost much to acquire.

The post MMO Trade Profile: Colin Poche, LHP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The 32-year-old lefty went seven innings, giving up two runs (one earned), five hits and two walks to drop his ERA to 3.67. He has given up five earned runs in 22 2/3 innings over his last four starts for a 1.99 ERA in that span.

Manaea’s outing was a quality start (at least six innings, three earned runs or less) and the Mets are 13th out of 15 National League teams in quality start percentage at 30 percent. Manaea (5-3) has made four quality starts in 16 outings (25 percent) and last night’s was his first since May 13.

And a quality fact from MLB Network researchers amplified by MLB’s Sarah Langs: Manaea made starts in the capital cities of the United Kingdom (London) and Mexico (Mexico City) before making his first start in the capital city of the United States (Washington, D.C.) on Tuesday.

Despite Manaea’s longest outing, there was still little rest for the weary relievers. The Mets needed extra frames for the third game in a row. They scored five in the 10th to beat the Nationals, 7-2, with José Buttó and Dedniel Núñez providing the relief.

The bullpen has been worked hard of late with the Edwin Díaz 10-game suspension, which ends this weekend, while also dealing with injuries to Drew Smith and Sean Reid-Foley. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday Reid-Foley likely won’t be back until at least after the All-Star break.

Mets starting pitchers are averaging 5.3 innings per start, which is a touch better than the National League 5.2 average. Taxed bullpens and starter length is a league-wide issue. The Philadelphia Phillies lead the NL with 5.9 innings per start. The Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants are tied for last at 4.7.

The post Manaea Provides Relief to Taxed Bullpen appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Diekman came in and gave up two earned runs on two hits, including what ended up being the game-winning two-run home run to Ketel Marte that edged the Diamondbacks past the Mets 5-4. Entering Sunday, Diekman was one for two in save opportunities but notched another blown save. He also increased his ERA to 4.26 and fell to 1-2 on the year.

The southpaw noted after the game, “I don’t think I’m executing well enough in certain situations.”

Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a common theme that’s plagued the Mets bullpen in 2024, a branch of the team that entered the season with a question mark hanging over their head. The team and new president of baseball operations, David Stearns, followed an approach he used in Milwaukee: sign relievers with a high upside at a low cost. With that mindset, the Mets brought in Michael Tonkin, Jorge López, Jake Diekman, Yohan Ramírez and Shintaro Fujinami.

Putting things into context, only Diekman remains with the big league club, while Fujinami has played the entire season in Syracuse and is on the IL with a right shoulder strain.

A Statistical Nightmare

Of most importance though, the bullpen is tied for the major league lead in losses at ten and has given up 17 home runs since May 1. Six of those losses have come when the Mets led after the eighth inning, and 11 of the home runs came in the ninth inning.

No other team in MLB has lost more than two games when their team was leading after eight innings.

The bullpen began the season as their greatest strength. At one point, they led the National League in ERA — however, entering Monday, they have the tenth-worst ERA in all of MLB at 4.25. On April 16 their ERA was 3.29. The pitching staff also leads the league in walks (241). Issues have arisen left and right, especially with Edwin Díaz‘s sudden regression, who hit the IL himself.

The overall consensus from Mendoza on the Mets’ relief pitchers and the team in general was that, “we need to learn how to finish.”

The Mets head to Washington next for a three-game series against the Nationals before they fly across the pond for a two-game series against the Phillies in London.

The post Mets’ Bullpen Woes Continue Into June appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

According to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, Díaz will pitch on Monday against the Miami Marlins. Mendoza said he will be kept up to 20 pitches. It will mark the first time Díaz has pitched in a major-league game since Game 3 of the 2022 National League Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres. The last time we saw Diaz in a Mets uniform in 2022, he was the best relief pitcher in baseball posting a dominant season. He totaled 32 saves, posted a 1.31 ERA, and struck out 118 batters. Since 2020, Díaz has saved 70 games for the Mets with an ERA of 2.27 as well as 257 strikeouts. 

Edwin Díaz. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

With Díaz ready to return to major league games, the Mets’ bullpen gets its best reliever back. Last year, David Robertson did a solid job as New York’s closer. He saved 14 games before he was traded to the Marlins. After that, Brooks Raley and Adam Ottavino shared the closer role. However, as expected, Díaz’s absence played an extremely large role in the Mets bullpen’s overall struggles in 2023. Simply because Raley, Ottavino, and Robertson were supposed to be the bridges to Díaz.

With the elite closer back now back, Raley, Ottavino, and free agent acquisitions, Jake Diekman and Shintaro Fujinami, can focus on getting the ball to their electric closer. The trumpets have returned. 

The post Edwin Díaz Set To Make His Long-Awaited Return On Monday appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

How Good Will the Bullpen Be?

New president of baseball operations David Stearns rebuilt the Mets’ bullpen from scratch. The only holdovers were Edwin Díaz (who is returning from a patellar injury), Brooks Raley and Drew Smith. Adam Ottavino resigned late after declining his player option in the offseason, and Smith was the only reliever tendered a contract at the deadline. 

Stearns approached the bullpen this offseason similarly to how he ran operations in Milwaukee. He signed players like Shintaro Fujinami, Jorge López and Jake Diekman, pitchers who offer a high ceiling and provide velocity and a variety of pitch deliveries and repertoires. 

The 2023 bullpen ranked 22nd in ERA at 4.45 and 27th in strikeouts with 571. With Díaz returning, there’s hope the bullpen can return to what it was in 2022. However, many of Stearns’ signings, while high reward, offer some risk. Spring training will give everyone an idea of what the bullpen looks like.

Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Who Will DH?

Possibly the biggest question mark on the roster entering spring training remains how the Mets decide to proceed with the DH role. Reports emerged near the end of January that the Mets weren’t inclined to spend at the position, instead sticking with Mark Vientos and other internal candidates within the organization. However, the Mets and J.D. Martinez‘s camp have been in contact recently.

While the Mets might wait for Martinez’s price to drop to sign him, it leaves a question mark for the time being on the position. Then comes the question of how playing time is divided. Which leads to…

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Do the Mets Have Their Next Long-Term Third Baseman?

Since David Wright stepped away due to injury, the Mets haven’t been able to find a suitable, long-term replacement. They thought they found their guy in Brett Baty, but his general success at Triple-A hasn’t translated at the big-league level. If the Mets sign Martinez to take over the DH role, do they put Vientos there? Or do they platoon Joey Wendle and the Baby Mets to see what the franchise has? Stearns noted in his presser Monday there will be some competition, but it feels like Baty’s job to lose.

The post Mets Spring Training Storylines to Watch appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Crick is in the veteran bucket of NRI pitchers. He made his major league debut in 2017 and played with the Giants, Pirates and White Sox before not pitching with any clubs last season. The Mets signed him to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training in December.

Crick was drafted in the first round back in 2011. After breaking into the majors with the Giants in 2017, he was traded to the Pirates. The Giants sent Crick with Bryan Reynolds for Andrew McCutchen. A star-studded trade, for sure.

His best season was back in 2018, when he pitched in 64 games, throwing 60 1/3 innings with a 2.39 ERA, 3.14 FIP and a 1.127 WHIP. According to Baseball Savant, he was in the 83rd percentile for xERA, 81st for xBA, 89th in fastball velocity, and 89th for average exit velocity. Further, he was in the 97th percentile for Barrel% and 100 for Hard-Hit%. Just all-around really good stats

Mets have signed right-handed reliever Kyle Crick to a minor league deal per @Ken_Rosenthal.

Crick didn’t pitch in 2023, but has a 3.56 ERA in 194 career appearances.

Throws slider a lot and he leads MLB with most over 3500 rpms in last five seasons.

pic.twitter.com/uefsscWpfq

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) December 1, 2023

In 2022, he pitched 15 2/3 innings with a 4.02 ERA, 3.18 FIP, and a 1.340 WHIP. He did not pitch enough in 2022 to qualify for most Baseball Savant metrics. His fastball velocity, though, dropped down to the 24th percentile. He threw 57% sliders around 80 mph (league average is a tick below 85) and 43% fastballs, averaging 92 mph.

The bullpen was an area of weakness for the Mets last season, and they have spent a lot of time this off-season bringing in a ton of different pitchers on a variety of deals with a diversity of throwing styles. We’ll have a better understanding of how Kyle Crick fits in the depth chart in just a few short weeks!

The post 2024 Mets Non-Roster Invitee Preview: Kyle Crick appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Roberto Carlo

NPB Beginnings

The 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher’s story began with ten seasons of experience in the Nippon Professional Baseball scene. He accumulated a lifetime 3.41 ERA in the NPB, along with 1,011 strikeouts in 994 1/3 innings. Fujinami’s best season came back in 2015 when he struck out 221 batters in 199 innings. He also had an impressive 2.40 ERA in 28 starts with a 14-7 record.

While his performance varied after that stellar season, he returned to excellence in the 2022 season. He struck out 115 batters in 107 1/3 innings, in addition to his 2.77 ERA and 1.118 WHIP. Fujinami’s most considerable development in 2022 was his improved control, earning a walk rate of three per nine innings. When juxtaposed with his 2021 figure of 6.3 walks per nine innings, it is clear that Fujinami turned a corner with his previous control issues.

Despite an outlier season in 2022, Fujinami has frequently struggled with control, negatively impacting his overall success. His 2021 season was characterized by struggle, accumulating a 4.21 ERA and 1.654 WHIP in 87 2/3 innings. Another example of the correlation between Fujinami’s high walk rate and lack of success is his 2017 season, in which he walked 76 batters and hit 11 with a pitch in only 120 innings.

This means that Fujinami allowed a runner to reach base due to a walk or hit by pitch in nearly 73 percent of his innings. Factoring in the 103 hits he allowed that season, Fujinami’s command struggles display an alarming trend in Fujinami’s career where he has been unable to reach his full potential.

MLB Struggles

After accumulating these formative years of experience in the NPB, Fujinami took his talents to the Oakland Athletics. He agreed to a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the club in the 2022 offseason, and the plan was for Fujinami to operate as a starting pitcher.

However, that plan would quickly go south, as Fujinami’s unimpressive 14.40 ERA in just four starts would prompt his transition to the bullpen. Besides his quality start against the Mets on April 15, Fujunami lasted no more than 4 1/3 innings in the other three starts, allowing 21 earned runs in only nine combined innings. He also allowed ten walks between those three starts, showcasing the disastrous ramifications of his control issues that dated back to his NPB career.

Upon entering the bullpen, Fujinami continued to see disastrous results, earning a 10.66 ERA in his first ten appearances. His walks continued to be an issue, as he walked 12 in 12 2/3 innings. His woes soared beyond walks, as he surrendered 15 hits in that span.

Consequently, Fujinami finally began to see a stretch of success after that horrific start. From May 27 to July 18, he appeared in 20 games, accumulating a 3.32 ERA, 3.99 FIP, and 22 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings. Most notably, he saw improvement with his control issues, only walking six batters in that span.

Photo by Roberto Carlo

Fujinami’s improved play caught the eye of the Baltimore Orioles, and they secured the reliever in a trade that sent minor league reliever Easton Lucas to Oakland in a one-for-one swap. The rookie would be going from the worst team in the league to a young, up-and-coming team in the playoff race. While this transition would generally motivate players, it is highly possible this could have been a jarring transition for Fujinami, as he was still acclimating to an entirely new country.

That said, Fujinami’s tenure with the Orioles was rocky at best. While he displayed flashes of success, he was unable to remain consistent enough to secure a spot on their playoff roster. In 29 2/3 innings, he had 32 strikeouts and 15 walks with a 4.85 ERA and 4.13 FIP. Beyond these numbers, his 42.9 percent ground ball rate and 33.8 percent hard-hit rate indicate that Fujinami has the makings of an effective reliever who can generate strikeouts and soft contact on the ground.

Besides one poor outing where he allowed three earned runs in 1/3 of an inning, Fujinami’s best production came in September. Excluding the aforementioned outing, he only allowed two earned runs in 9 1/3 innings with ten strikeouts and five walks. This encouraging stretch to finish the season made Fujinami an attractive free agent candidate for the Mets.

When looking at Fujinami’s season from start to finish, the numbers do not appear to be inspiring:

2023 Traditional Stats: 64 G, 79 IP, 7-8, 7.18 ERA, 1.494 WHIP, 83 SO, 45 BB

2023 Advanced Stats: 57 ERA+, 23.3 SO%, 12.6 BB%, 4.80 xERA, 4.61 FIP, 5.05 xFIP, 0.2 fWAR, -2.1 bWAR

A Fresh Start

However, he does possess some redeeming qualities that likely provoked the Mets to sign him to a contract.

Fujinami’s velocity is arguably his most appealing attribute, as his fastball can eclipse triple digits. He used his fastball 56.6 percent of the time in 2023 with an average velocity of 98.4 mph. Despite the high volume of fastball usage, Fujinami accumulated a 25.5 percent whiff rate with the pitch, showing that it can remain effective with high usage. In addition, his 11.1 inches of horizontal break on his fastball is 2.4 inches above the average figure, showcasing the deceptiveness of the pitch when paired with its high velocity.

Mets have signed hard thrower Shintaro Fujinami per @JonHeyman

pic.twitter.com/esDXffLeLa

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) February 2, 2024

While he is adept at missing bats with the fastball, his splitter and cutter are responsible for the majority of his 30.1 percent whiff rate, which ranks him in the 78th percentile among qualified pitchers. He used his splitter 20.1 percent of the time with an average velocity of 92.8 mph while generating a 37.2 percent whiff rate. Similarly, his cutter generated a 38.2 percent whiff rate while only being used 16 percent of the time. His average velocity of 88.2 mph with the cutter demonstrates his potential to confuse hitters, as it is over 10 miles per hour less than his average fastball velocity.

He also deployed a sweeper that he only used 6.1 percent of the time while generating a whiff rate of 27.3 percent. Furthermore, he featured a slider that was hit hard, with minimal usage at 1.2 percent and a .750 batting average against it.

When examining his repertoire, it is clear that his splitter and cutter are his most deceptive pitches. That said, it might be wise for Fujinami to mix his pitches a little more so that he can fool batters more often with the difference in velocity among his three pitches.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it might help that Fujinami will start on a blank slate with a new team this season after a chaotic rookie campaign. Going into spring training to serve as a reliever will likely benefit both the Mets and Fujinami, as they can plan a productive time in Port St. Lucie centered around his development in the bullpen. In addition, Fujinami will reunite with his fellow countryman and 2017 World Baseball Classic teammate Kodai Senga, (see a picture of the pair here) which could aid in his acclimation to the dynamic New York environment.

The post A Deep Dive Into New York Mets Reliever Shintaro Fujinami appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Position: RP B/T: R/R
Age: 32 (07/26/1991)

2023 Traditional Stats: 55 G, 50.2 IP, 4.09 ERA, 1.243 WHIP, 3-1, 51 SO, 21 BB
2023 Advanced Stats: 103 ERA+, 23.9% SO%, 9.9% BB%, 3.96 xERA, 4.60 FIP, 5.06 xFIP,  0.1 fWAR, 0.3 bWAR

Rundown

Ryne Stanek began his major league career with the Tampa Bay Rays, primarily used as an opener after struggling in his first few appearances. During this time, he set a major league record with 17 starts where he allowed one run or less. He ended his three-year tenure with the Rays in 2019, compiling a 2-5 record, 3.55 ERA and 171 strikeouts through 142 innings of work.

After a tumultuous stint in Miami, where he finished his time with a 6.09 ERA in 31 games, the Astros signed Stanek to a one-year deal in 2021. He rediscovered his command, ending 2021 with a career-best 1.51 ERA in 59 games. Stanek had his best years in Houston, finishing with a 3.19 ERA in three seasons, with 196 strikeouts through 173 innings.

He predominantly throws a fastball, split-finger, and slider. Interestingly, he threw his slider less when he arrived in Houston. In 2020 with the Marlins, he threw his slider 38.1% of the time but only 18.5% the next three years as an Astro. Players hit .250 against the slider in 2020 but a measly .105 in 2021.

Ryne Stanek, 90mph Gyro Spin Slider. pic.twitter.com/ykk69rrdvz

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 1, 2019

According to Statcast, Stanek landed in the 96th percentile in fastball velocity (98.2 mph) in 2023, 84th percentile in fastball run value (9) and 82nd percentile in whiff% (30.7%). He also placed in the 76th percentile in xBA (.222) but landed in the bottom percentiles in hard-hit rate and ground ball rates.

Stanek was out for a couple of weeks in September due to an ankle sprain. While the strikeout numbers are down, the walks are also down compared to the previous two years. He induced more fly balls, making him prone to the home run ball. He gave up eight in his 52 innings last season. 

Contract

Stanek enters his first year as a free agent after making $3.6 million with the Astros in his final arbitration-eligible year. Expect the right-hander to land either a one or two-year deal in the $3 million to $5 million per year range. Here is a list of what late-inning relievers comparable to Stanek netted this offseason:

• Chris Stratton: two-years, $8 million (Royals)
• Kirby Yates: one-year, $4.5 million (Rangers)
• Brent Suter: one-year, $3 million (Reds)

With the reliever market moving quickly, Stanek will become a hot commodity. As a result, his price may rise as his stock does.

Recommendation

The Mets need bullpen help, plain and simple. Relievers have come and gone in the free agency period, and the clock’s ticking. With few relievers remaining and spring training less than a month away, the Mets need to move. Stanek would make a nasty one-two punch as the set-up man to Edwin Díaz, closing out games on days he’s unavailable.

I can see the Mets signing Stanek to a two-year deal as they look to see what other options remain in their minor league system. The carryover to next season gives them a formidable bullpen and a chance to be legitimate contenders.

The post Free Agent Profile: Ryne Stanek, RHP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.