There are plenty of relief pitchers on the free agent market this offseason, and the New York Mets need some. Last season, the bullpen had an average 4.45 ERA, putting them ranked 22nd in baseball. If they want to improve those numbers, these pitchers have the potential to upgrade the bullpen.
4 Pitchers The Mets Should Consider Adding to the Bullpen
Josh Hader
If you’re a Mets fan, this is a guy you should want. A five-time All-Star and three-time National League Reliever of the Year award-winner, Hader gives you so much depth.
The 29-year-old southpaw was ranked No.1 free agent reliever this offseason. In 2023, he put up his second-lowest career ERA at 1.28 in 61 games pitched with the San Diego Padres. He had a WHIP of 1.101, so it’s clear he can strike out many hitters and not walk them much. Overall, he possesses a 2.50 ERA in 349 games pitched with a 0.944 WHIP in his career.
The Baltimore Orioles currently have been in contact with Hader, who’s reportedly seeking a big contract that could exceed the one Edwin Diaz has, which is $102 million for five years. If you’re Mets owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns, this is definitely at least worth a thought.
Signing Hader into the bullpen would totally be beneficial for the Mets. Yes, he struggled in 2022 after being dealt to the Padres by the Milwaukee Brewers. However, his overall career statistics and performances are outstanding. As for where they would place him in the bullpen, he could be a good fit for the seventh or eighth inning, which would fill that hole after the departure of Adam Ottavino.
Matt Moore
This is a guy who’s not only good for the bullpen, but also an experienced starter.
Moore is a 34-year-old southpaw with so much experience pitching in the big leagues with different teams. He has bounced around starting and relieving for teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies.
In 2022, his role was as a reliever with the Phillies. He put up a 1.95 ERA. Last season with the Los Angeles Angels, his ERA was at 2.56. He ended up being put on waivers by the Angels in August and got claimed by the Cleveland Guardians. He then was placed on waivers again after the Guardians missed the postseason, and he got claimed by the Miami Marlins.
Moore had a $7.55 million contract last season, so if the Mets were to sign him, they could provide him with something similar.
The Mets should definitely look at Moore as a solid option for the bullpen. Plus, if there is a need for a replacement starter should someone get injured in the rotation, he can be the guy to step up.
Brent Suter
Suter, another southpaw at 34 years old, pitched excellent with the Colorado Rockies in 2023. His ERA was 3.38, which may not be that low, but still solid.
Although he doesn’t throw hard, his pitches often result in soft contact. In fact, he averaged an 84.0 mph exit velocity. That’s ranked as the best among 280 pitchers who faced 250 batters last season or more in the major leagues.
Hitters aren’t even hitting well when they face Suter. Whenever he threw a changeup or a slider last season, they’re hitting well under .200.
Suter makes sense for the Mets bullpen and for familiarity to Stearns, who ran the Brewers’ operations when he began his career pitching for them.
David Robertson
This is the same pitcher who helped the Mets close games last season after Diaz’s injury until he got traded to the Marlins at the trade deadline.
Robertson, a 38-year-old veteran right-hander, posted a 2.05 ERA and earned 13 saves in 40 appearances for the Mets in 2023. On the other hand, his ERA increased to 5.06 with the Marlins.
Robertson’s struggles in Miami may have lowered his price tag in free agency, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be solid enough for a team that needs reliable relief pitchers. If there is one player the Mets would be willing to have a reunion with, it should be Robertson.
The State of the Mets Bullpen Now
Even though Diaz is returning as the closer, the Mets bullpen is still an area that should be addressed. Ottavino is no longer there. A few current pitchers, Drew Smith, for example, have question marks around them after last season. We’ll see what Cohen and Stearns do to address this issue.
Main Image: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
