Reese Kaplan -- Pitchers Available in Free Agency for 2024 (Part 1)

So it would seem that planning for the 2024 season should have begun long ago and many folks feel the answer lies in Steve Cohen's free agency salary wallet.  While there is something to be said for forking over good money for good performance (such as Kodai Senga and until the last game, David Robertson), there is far more often an inequitable return on the investment.

Take Starling Marte, for example.  I'm not picking on him specifically, but merely using him as an example.  He signed a four year deal with the Mets for roughly $78 million.  In his first year he was paid a lesser rate of $15,750,000.  For that until a late season injury stopped him, he was delivering All Star performance with power, speed, batting average and defense.  That salary was indeed a bargain for what he delivered.  With his abbreviated 118 games he delivered 3.8 WAR which in terms of salary is about $30 million in value.  Then came the great slump of 2023.  His WAR number is negative yet his salary increased to $20,750,000.  He's going to be paid $20,750,000 per season for his age 35 and age 36 seasons for the Mets.

So as much as people want to see the Mets break all kinds of contractual records to secure the services of two-way player Shoehei Ohtani, a boon both to the starting rotation and to the DH role which has eluded the Mets badly since it was first implemented in the National League.  Of course, getting him into Queens may require a long term deal of $45 to $50 million per year.  Considering he'll just be turning 30 next year, an eight year deal might be needed and at $50 million per season that's a $400 million contract.  Ouch!  What happens if his arm bothers him and he cannot pitch?  That's a lot of green for a one-way player who is very good but not worth that kind of dough.

2024's free agency is known as the year of the pitcher as the offensive players who should or may be available for the most part are on the latter stages of their careers like Nelson Cruz and J.D. Martinez, or at best good but not great for their careers.  Consequently it is doubly important to see what kind of sticks the Mets youth brigade can deliver if and only if they are given ample time to adjust and grow in the last two months of the season when October baseball for the Mets will most assuredly be as spectators and not players.

On the pitching side of the ledger there are some interesting names out there.  Marcus Stroman can be a free agent once again if he so desires, but it would appear he has burned his Mets bridges and a reunion with him is highly unlikely.

Less acrimonious was the departure of Noah Syndergaard who most definitely has ability but has fought injuries throughout much of his career.  This season for the Dodgers he has been downright awful.  He's currently sitting at 1-4 with a 7.16 ERA.  Ugh!  However, for his career he is a 3.65 ERA pitcher who has in five of his eight seasons pitched to a below 4.00 ERA which could indeed be useful.  Given his showing this season he would not be expensive and likely would want a one year "prove it" deal to show he belongs in the big leagues.  It is possible he might be better at age 31 to do a Dennis Eckersley and reinvent himself as a reliever.

Another former Met out there will be Aaron Loup whose one year at Citifield was one for the all time record books.  The Mets need relievers in the worst way and given his less than stellar performance since leaving Queens he would not be expensive and could be a useful component.  I'm not the typical fan entranced with bringing back Mets players for sequel performances but sometimes it could be worth considering.

A short term Met also becoming a free agent is lefthander Brad Hand.  He's in his early 30s, usually good at keeping runners from scoring and has been a three time All Star.  His control is a bit of an issue which always makes me doubly nervous in relief pitchers, but a career (and 2023) ERA of 3.62 suggests he is able to weasel out of jams.

One current Met who is almost guaranteed to be brought back is lefty reliever Brooks Raley.  He is one of the rare breed of Mets relievers who hasn't collapsed regularly in game after game.  In fact, as of this writing he's still harboring an ERA under 3.00.  Given his lackluster career prior to his one standout departing season in Tampa no one quite knew what to expect, but he is apparently a late bloomer who appears now for the second year in a row pitched quite effectively.

The next time around let's look at possible pitching newcomers from other ballclubs who could help the Mets in their quest back to respectability.