Reese Kaplan -- A Trio of Possible Quality Bullpen Options

No one who is a Mets fan can't fail to understand the impact the entire 2023 season's loss of Edwin Diaz had on the outcome of games and the resulting sub .500 standing achieved by the Mets.  By all accounts Diaz is completely healthy and ready to dominate anyone who has the misfortune of facing him.

After Diaz the next up on the chart is Brooks Raley who finished the 2023 season not as a "Who?" but as a real asset.  His 1-2 and 3 save record is not how you evaluate the quality of what he did.  For that take a look at his 2023 ERA of just 2.80 with 61 Ks in under 55 IP.  He was the real deal after securing him in free agency from Tampa.  He's the ultimate late developer type of pitcher and a bargain at the price they paid for him.

Unfortunately, after that it's pretty bleak in the New York Mets bullpen.  I won't aggravate you with a name-by-name recitation of the many relievers on the roster but none of them have a record that is something to make you say, "Whoa!" in a good way.  Drew Smith has been more good than bad despite his less appealing results in 2023.  

After that it's a crap shoot of relievers who have a tool -- velocity, motion, trick pitches or potential -- but none of the people currently within the locker room are going to fill you with confidence setting up for Raley and Diaz respectively.

If you follow the various news reports or wild conjecture the Mets are apparently in quest of some notable arms after realizing the sum total of the 2024 relievers on the roster will not provide a solid transition to the more established and successful late inning hurlers.  

The names that have come up most recently are currently unemployed free agents Adam Ottavino, Hector Neris and Ryne Stanek.  There are others out there, but this trio is getting the majority of attention.

We all know Ottavino from his seasons in the Mets dugout.  He's been reliable, better in 2022 than in 2023, but at his age and track record he's certainly someone no one would object to seeing in a Mets uniform once again.  He's likely looking for at minimum a two-year contract to help ensure the latter stage of his career towards his retirement and given what he's produced from the 7th inning role he appears to be a legitimate option.  He can pitch in New York and has done so both for the Mets and the Yankees. 

(After writing this, Ottavino signed with the Mets for just one year, $4.5 million.  His turned down option would have cost the Mets $500,000 a year in deferred salary for six years (2025-30), plus $1 million in 2031, so this deal clears out what would have eaten up some precious salary cap space in 2024-31.)

The less well known options both have Astros roots.  Hector Neris is good for a career 3.24 ERA and last season was even better.  He's allegedly looking for two years or more at a broad salary range of $7 million to $11 million per year.  He's not a closer but is a premier quality setup guy.  

Ryne Stanek is a less costly option with a career ERA of 3.45.  He's a borderline 100 mph pitcher who has that indefinable "something" that makes you feel he's really more than the numbers alone suggest.  Given the mid velocity from the left side from Raley, the right handed fireballer Stanek might indeed be appealing for the Mets.  He earned under $4 million and likely could be secured for $5 million or less.  That's cheaper than Neris and Ottavino would be and the output is certainly impressive.  

For now folks are frustrated by the inaction by David Stearns who appears to be waiting out the remaining free agents whose prices might drop the closer to Spring Training it gets without them having an employer.  There's validity to that strategy, but at the same time you keep watching guys like Aroldis Chapman, Robert Stephenson and others inking new deals while you sit on your hands and keep waiting.  

(Again, the signing of Ottavino after this column was drafted goes a long way towards shoring up the bullpen).