Reese Kaplan -- Big David Peterson Coming Up Small for Mets

One of the players who causes agita for the Mets these days is lefty pitcher David Peterson.  The man has served primarily as a starting pitcher during his career and at times has looked like a middle to back of the rotation capable hurler.  However, there are other times like the recent first inning debacle in which he seems just to have forgotten whatever it is he has that's worked effectively in the past.

If you delve into his minor league numbers, you see someone whose potential certainly looks genuine.  He's spent parts of four seasons working his way up and during that time he's gone 12-19 with a 3.75 ERA.  Those numbers are encouraging but don't shout "Ace" to anyone.  

Now he's spent parts of three seasons in New York where his performance is understandably a bit less than that as he's facing better hitters.  From 2020 through 2022 he actually sports a winning record of 15-13 with a higher ERA of 4.30.  While that number is not all that impressive, it's commensurate with what most teams' back-of-the-rotation starters deliver.  

There is a belief throughout baseball that it takes lefties longer to master their craft than it does righties.  The big 6'6" Peterson has done a credible job keeping batters from delivering hits, but he's not doing nearly as well when it comes to free passes with over 4 per 9 IP.  

As a result, his WHIP number is over 1.300 which is not in the upper tier of where you'd like your pitchers to perform.  He is striking out over 1 batter per inning pitched, so the talent is most definitely there.

The problem for the Mets going forward both for the remainder of this season and in 2023 is what do you do with him.  He's recently had rough first inning stints, so converting him at age 27 in 2023 to become a full time reliever seems like a difficult path to take.  His value in the righty-heavy rotation is better as a starting pitcher.  

If Taijuan Walker leaves, there's an immediate vacancy.  You also face the potential Jacob deGrom opt out and the impending free agency of Chris Bassitt.  It might be foolhardy to force someone into an unfamiliar and difficult role when his better-known route as a starting pitcher has been more successful.  

Now in the 2022 postseason, you really have to think long and hard about what Peterson should do for the team.  They will likely go with a 3-man (or perhaps 4-man) rotation, so he wouldn't fit in there.  He's not likely a reliable bullpen option but perhaps could fulfill the long man role if the club needs someone to eat 3 innings or so when the starter falters early.  

Other folks have stepped up and shown more when healthy.  Tylor Megill was incredible while filling Jacob deGrom's shoes when he missed the early part of the season.  Trevor Williams has delivered quite well as a sport starter, too.  Consequently, ask yourself in the realm of who you want on the mound if Peterson is any higher than your third option?  Williams is a free agent at year's end, so it may just be Megill who is ahead of him, but young and inexpensive lefties often are desired by other teams who think they can fix whatever the Mets have failed to correct to take Peterson up to the next level.  Is the best role for David Peterson to become trade bait?

Right now the club is reeling a bit due to a rough month of September, so many folks are not thinking past the hopeful finish as winners of the NL Eastern Division.  However, the game is about more than where you are in the standings today or at the end of September. It's also about where you will be in October and in subsequent years.  

I'm of the opinion that Peterson has not yet solidified any claim on future Mets pitching assignments.