According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the New York Mets are considering adding pitching depth on the heels of the news that Seth Lugo has a UCL tear. Sherman does caution the Mets are not active in their pursuit at this juncture of the season, but it is noteworthy the team is at least contemplating such a move.
The Mets need to contemplate because the team cannot reliably predict when Lugo can pitch again. For that matter, given the injury history of Steven Matz, the team cannot reasonably predict when he will be able to return from his strained flexor tendon. These injuries have forced Zack Wheeler into the rotation ahead of schedule, which is somewhat concerning considering the Mets want to limit him to 125 innings.
If the Mets are not comfortable in Rafael Montero, Sean Gilmartin, Ricky Knapp, or any other pitcher in their organization making multiple starts at some point this season, the team may very well need to bring in a veteran starter on a minor league deal. The Mets have not jumped to make such a move because there isn’t much out there. That should be obvious when Jon Niese landed with the Yankees on a minor league deal on the eve of Opening Day. With that in mind, here is the rest of the best:
2016 Stats: 4-10, 5.07 ERA, 24 G, 22 GS, 119.0 IP, 1.731 WHIP, 4.2 K/9
If you thought Pelfrey was frustrating with the Mets, he has been worse since leaving. Over the past four years, Pelfrey is 15-37 with a 4.97 ERA, 1.593 WHIP, and a 5.0 K/9. Pelfrey is hovering in the low 90s now, and he doesn’t have the same sinker anymore. It is a big reason why the Tigers decided to eat the $8 million and release him before the start of the season.
2016 Stats: 12-13, 4.64 ERA, 32 G, 32 GS, 180.1 IP, 1.425 WHIP, 5.7 K/9
In some ways, it is surprising Fister is still a free agent. Certainly, Fister wasn’t great last year posting an 85 ERA+, but he was a durable starter who ate up innings. He really is an ideal candidate for what the Mets would want in this type of situation. He is a serviceable starter, who may catch lightning in a bottle. He is just two years removed form a season that saw him go 16-6 with a 2.41 ERA, 1.079 WHIP, and a 5.4 K/9. Fister is even more enticing when you consider he can also pitch well out of the bullpen.
2016 Stats: 2-6, 9.16 ERA, 9 G, 9 GS, 38.1 IP, 2.374 WHIP, 7.5 K/9
Lincecum is nowhere near the pitcher he once was. He’s not even 10% of the pitcher he once was. He barely gets the ball in the high 80s, and he is not fooling anyone anymore on the mound getting hit all over the place over the past few seasons. At this point, it is really hard to argue he is little more than a big name.
2015 Stats: 1-2, 6.75 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 16.0 IP, 1.563 WHIP, 2.8 K/9
Harrison was once a cornerstone staring pitcher for the Rangers. In 2014, he had spinal fusion surgery, and he has not been able to return to the field. Harrison was released by the Phillies after last season. Presumably, he has not announced his retirement from baseball as he is owed $13.2 million this year.
2016 Stats: 5-9, 5.54 ERA, 31 G, 21 GS, 118.2 IP, 1.433 WHIP, 7.7 K/9
While he is a bulldog on the mound, Peavy has yet to really adapt to his diminished stuff. He now lives in the mid to high 80s, and he tries to get by on blood and guts. He was able to hang on for a few years, but it came crashing down last year. Realistically, he may not have the stuff anymore to get by in the minor leagues, let alone the majors.
2016 Stats: 6-5, 3.71 ERA, 19 G, 19 GS, 116.1 IP, 1.126 WHIP, 5.6 K/9
Lewis overplayed his hand this offseason turning down a minor league deal to return to the Rangers, and now he still finds himself as a free agent after what was a pretty good 2016 season. Unlike many of the pitchers on this list, Lewis seems to still have some gas left in the tank.
Overall, if the Mets are not satisfied with their internal options, the best bets available seem to be Fister and Lewis. However, those pitchers are really only options if they are in game shape. Certainly, the Mets do not want to add someone who is going to need a prolonged period getting ready to pitch in the minor leagues. With respect to a pitcher like Lewis, you certainly don’t want to add a guy who may have no interest in pitching in the minors at all.
In reality, the Mets options are limited at this point, which isn’t surprising. The best bet may just be for Matz and Lugo to get healthy at some point this season to pitch, and that the healthy pitchers they do have remain that way.
