The market for free-agent right-hander Darren O’Day is moving quickly, reports Buster Olney of ESPN, and he already has offers in hand.
Olney says the Tigers, Red Sox and Giants are three clubs to have significant interest in O’Day, but he’s not aware if they are among the teams to have extended a formal offer.
As for the Mets, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York wrote Tuesday that while they very much want to add a top-tier set-up man this Winter to pair with Jeurys Familia, free agent relievers Darren O’Day and Joakim Soria won’t be serious options for the Mets.
Rubin says both sought-after relievers may land closing roles via free agency and even if they don’t they will still command closer-type contracts, something which the Mets are unwilling to splurge for.
If that’s true it’s somewhat disappointing to hear the Mets won’t be players for two quality setup men like those two. We are talking about players who would be difference makers in our bullpen. It points to continued belt-tightening financially – even after a season where the team made huge advances in revenue, ratings and attendance during their run to the World Series.
We’re not talking about shelling out $200 million on Jason Heyward here, I already know those types of players and those days are gone. But we’re talking about a three-year deal for O’Day worth roughly $24 million tops according to MLBTR and Jon Heyman.
Over the last four seasons, O’Day has gone 23-8 with a 1.92 ERA, 214 ERA+ and 0.939 WHIP. In 263.0 innings pitched, he has struck out 283 batters for a 9.7 strikeout rate, while posting a 2.1 walk rate and a 4.56 BB/SO ratio.
This past season was his best season yet, as O’Day went 6-2 with a sublime 1.52 ERA, striking out 82 batters in 65.1 innings, while walking only 14 and allowing just five home runs. He also picked up six saves.
The Mets struggled all year long to find a bridge to Familia, using ten different relievers in a setup role and never actually settling on one.
Their bullpen was completely exposed in the World Series, blowing three late leads and allowing 24 earned runs, 47 hits and 17 walks in 51.1 innings.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals showed the Mets what you can do with a bullpen fronted by a pair of filthy shutdown relievers. They completely silenced our offense and went on to win the World Series against us.
The Mets are expected to tender Addison Reed an offer and he should get somewhere around $6 million in arbitration after earning $4.875 million in 2015. He pitched well in a small 15.1 inning sample size for the Mets, posting a 1.17 ERA in 17 appearances. But Reed had a 4.40 ERA with Arizona before arriving in 40.2 innings.
During the World Series, Reed wasn’t fooling anyone and he allowed four earned runs in 3.2 innings for a 9.85 ERA. And the damage could have been a lot worse if not for three spectacular catches by Curtis Granderson (2) and Michael Conforto (1) to rob the Royals of three hits for extra bases.
It’s not known yet who the Mets may be targeting in free agency to fill the setup role, and of course there’s also the possibility they can trade for one.
It’s still early so we’ll see how it evolves, but geez spend the extra $2 million and at least try to sign O’Day before giving Reed $6 million. Be still might sign with another team but at least you can say you tried.
