Reese Kaplan -- Who Exactly Is the Next Relief Pitcher...???

At times you think you are beginning to understand the new way of Mets business operations and then all of the sudden a new wrinkle occurs that gets you shaking your head in wonder, puzzlement and frustration.  According to most reports the Mets had about $5 million left to spend on payroll for the upcoming 2024 season and it seemed that it was a solid plan to transition from the freespending 2022 and 2023 seasons towards building for a 2025 and beyond.

Part of this strategy was apparently taking a long hard look at the younger players like Brett Baty and Mark Vientos with Ronny Mauricio on the shelf for the season and the Cohen tax making every investment more than double what the surface pay to the player would be.  It is for that reason that it's understandable that they passed on Justin Turner as a DH and 3rd base insurance even at $13 million for a single year which is what he got in Toronto though to the Mets that total investment would actually be closer to $30 million with the payroll penalties that would incur.

Going back to the other glaring need was improving the bullpen.  Getting Adam Ottavino back was greeted with universal praise, particularly when it came at a $2 million discount over what he would have earned had he not opted to exercise free agency.  Ottavino was a solid pitcher for the team in 2023 after a truly spectacular 2022, so at his discounted rate of pay it was a shrewd move for someone who has already proven the ability pitch effectively in New York City.  

So unless you are prepared to go into 2024 with some combination of Austin Adams, Phil Bickford, Reed Garrett, Grant Hartwig, Max Kranick, Jorge Lopez, Yohan Ramirez, Sean Reid-Foley, Drew Smith, Michael Tonkin and Josh Walker.  For an exercise in number juggling, let's just head off this list with last year's punching bag, Smith, whose 4-5 record with a 4.15 ERA and 1.405 WHIP with a 0.1 WAR would represent the cream of this crop.

Do you doubt me?  Well, let's see...

Austin Adams is 32 years old coming off a 5.71 ERA season and a career mark of 4.17.  Phil Bickford is younger at 28 but coming off a 4.95 ERA season and a 4.43 number for his career.  Reed Garrett, when healthy, is 31 years old and had for him a good 2024 when his ERA was "just" 6.41 which is better than his baseball card which shows a history of 7.11.  Grant Hartwig is the baby of the bunch at just 26, he got some vultured victories last year, going 5-2 with a 4.84 ERA in his rookie campaign.  

That's not horrific but not exactly confidence inspiring either.  Newcomer Max Kranick is a 26 year old scrap heap pickup from the Pirates. His 2-3 rookie season was forgettable with a 5.56 ERA but in the minors he showed good control and a career 3.55 ERA mark.  Jorge Lopez is being penciled in as a regular in the pen based upon...what?  He pitched to a 5.95 ERA last year and that is similar to his career number of 5.51.  

Yohan Ramirez pitched to a 4.23 ERA last season which is slightly worse than his career mark of 3.99.  Sean Reid-Foley was more than a run better than his usual ERA last season at 3.52 but injury curtailed his season to just 8 games.  Michael Tonkin is sometimes said to be a solid addition to the pen but at age 34 he is what he is -- a career 4.37 ERA reliever.  Recovering Josh Walker is coming off a 14-game season with an 8.10 ERA and minor league numbers of 3.98 for his career.  

Do you see anyone awe-inspiring on this list of would be support relievers?  

What makes this situation more head scratching was the recent contract extended to Wandy Peralta by the San Diego Padres.  For four years, it might not mesh well with the flexibility they are desiring in the roster and payroll obligation but it was at a rate well below the $5 million annually they have available for that next needed arm.  

It's certainly frustrating to see credible players bypassed while instead they are banking on a group that on their best days are the 26th man on other teams' rosters.   

After writing this piece and prior to its appearance here on Friday morning the Mets did engage another relief pitcher, southpaw Jake Diekman.  He's a credible choice who finished 2023 in stellar fashion with the Rays after failing miserably in Chicago.  

He's a soft tosser and is capable of getting out both right handed hitters as well as lefties.  While he may not have had the last three year reign of stellar performance of Peralta, he's still way better than the others currently on the roster who make up that large collection of borderline relievers.  Now the question remains who gets cut from the roster to make room for him.