Reese Kaplan -- How Do the Mets Spell Relief in 2024?

When people analyze what the Mets need to do to prepare for the 2024 season, the first thing that comes to mind are the many vacancies in the starting rotation.  Going into next year they really only have Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana set to be part of the starting pitching rotation.  

The other three openings have been well covered already, with prospects ranging from Japanese free-agent-to-be Yoshinobu Yamamoto, all-everything free agent Shoehei Ohtani and various other pitchers slated to be available via free agency or trades.

Today, however, we're not going to uncover any new ground in this well documented part of Billy Eppler's job come the end of the World Series.  No, today we're instead going to look a bit more deeply at the supporting staff that will take the mound after 5, 6 or 7 innings from a decent starter.  The Mets have had some real issues with the depth and breadth of their relief corps, but it's not quite as bad as it seems right off the bat.  Let's take a look.

Edwin Diaz

Any time a pitcher goes under major injury recovery there is some trepidation about making predictions how he will do upon his return to regular duty.  This season it wasn't arm, elbow, shoulder or wrist issues that kept Diaz off the mound, but a problem in his knee.  He's had the surgery and his rehabilitation is well covered.  Some folks are optimistic he can make a token appearance or two before year's end to put his own mind at ease that he's ready to return for stellar work in 2024.  

Others feel that with the team long gone from postseason contention it would be foolish to risk a physical setback or to see him altering his stride to put less pressure on the repaired knee which could, in turn, trigger more common arm problems.  

I'm personally of the opinion that when the club can expand to allow 3 extra players after September 1st Edwin Diaz should be one of them.  He doesn't have to play.  He's not being asked to be the primary closer.  However, he would feel better being a regular part of the active roster and if he demonstrates solid rehab results, then a game or two by season's end is not necessarily a bad idea.

Adam Ottavino

We've all seen Adam Ottavino at his best in 2022.   Then we saw him become serviceable but not outstanding in 2023.  He's under contract and has an established track record of being well above average in a bullpen role in both leagues.  Given the many moving parts on the roster this season and the influx of a great many new people in 2024 it's important to have some stability wherever you can find it.  

Ottavino likes it here in New York and as long as he hasn't been asked to defend runners from stealing bases he generally makes people feel pretty confident that the late innings are in good hands.  He'll be back and the club is hopefully going to see the 2022 version in support of Edwin Diaz.

Brooks Raley

No one really knew what to expect when Billy Eppler swapped minor league assets to bring Brooks Raley to Queens.  His 2022 season was his single standout performance during his long career, so people didn't know if it was a great season or merely an outlier.  Raley was a left handed arm seeking to provide the Mets with the kind of support they had during Aaron Loup's year in orange and blue.  Well, they got pretty much that as his 2023 season mirrored his 2022.  

There is an option for a second year of Raley in the pen and the Mets would be quite foolish not to keep him around.  That starting trio for the 7th, 8th and 9th inning looks pretty formidable even without the now departed David Robertson on the team.

Here's where it starts to get fuzzy...

Grant Hartwig

Newcomer Grant Hartwig was a mystery upon his arrival.  As a minor leaguer his control was always a bit of an issue but you can't argue with a three season minor league ERA of just 2.59.  All has not been consistently that level of quality and his ERA is currently in the upper 4's but it would appear he has the potential to be a solid part of a revamped pen.  Unfortunately it takes  more than 19 games to establish how good or bad you're going to be.

Drew Smith

For a guy who has been around for his whole major league career when he's not on the IL or suspended for alleged sticky substances on his hand, most of the time Smith has been a solid contributor.  He has  career record over .500.  His ERA is 3.45.  He's still under age 30 and has shown decent control.  He should be a member of the 2024 staff.  While he's not David Robertson either, you need people whose abilities are better more often than they are worse.  

Miscellaneous  

I'm not going to single out any particular names from the revolving door of healthy and unhealthy relievers who have been assigned to the 6th through whatever status rungs on the bullpen ladder except to note that they are emminently replaceable.  The problem is that closer type relievers won't want to come to the Mets knowing that they have folks in place already for that duty next year.  

Unproven rookies and AAAA types are not generally a long term solution either.  The trick is finding decent veterans who will understand their middle inning and mop up roles, smile and be happy about it.  Maybe someone like the recently released Mychal Givens is worth another shot.  If not him, another veteran or two in the latter stages of his career who can help out in situational usage.