Mets Need To Continue To Add To The Bullpen

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?

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.

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.

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.