Reese Kaplan -- The Nth Level Player Options Being Discussed

OK, OK, OK...it’s January 2nd and I have already threatened to break my single New Year’s Resolution to be uncharacteristically patient and understanding about the intelligence and effort put forth by Mets head honcho David Stearns.  It would be very easy right now to tap dance on his cranium given how little positive has been done this off season but for one day I am not placing blame.  Instead we will evaluate the players whose names have been associated with the Mets to fill the two vacant starting outfield positions, improving the starting rotation and bolstering the early innings part of the bullpen. 

Offense

One name we hear repeated is Austin Hays as a starting caliber outfielder to help steady to rocking ship.  He’s a solid defender which is not a bad thing to have on the field, but it’s the other side of his game that is a bit concerning.  While a member of the Orioles in 2023 the 29 year old right handed hitter batted a very respectable .275 with 16 HRs and drove in 67.  That’s his best ever season.  It’s not bad but it’s not what was provided by folks who have already left.  He’ll come inexpensively...slated to be in the $6 million to $7.5 million range.  The financial savings would help finance something else but recognize how much offense is still missing.

Max Kepler’s name has surface more than once as well.  An elder statesman, he’s always been a solid player but not really a difference maker these days.  The turning 33 year old left handed hitter at once performed really well, including his 2019 season when he hit 36 HRs, drove in 90 while hitting .252.  That was, of course, six years ago.  In the past few seasons his output is simply not there.  In his final yea rin Minnesota combined with his solo effort in Philadelphia he hit 26 HRs and drove in 94 while fanning 173 times and hitting just .233.  That total still looks pretty good but bear in mind it took his 785 ABs to accumulate it.  Lefty hitting doesn’t appear to be as big a need as right handed so as a fifth outfielder he’s not a bad choice but as a starter he doesn’t appear to deliver very much while costing a bit more than Hays while being older and less effective.

Starting Rotation

Word has come out that some of the highest end free agent options are not on the Mets hypothetical table.  If the rumors are true then Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez and Zac Gallen will find pricey new jobs outside of Citifield.  Now some of the other free agents starting to gain some rumor traction incude former Met Chris Bassitt.  His health is holding up and during his single season in New York he was highly professional in every start. His last season in Toronto cost $22 million and for that he delivered a sub 4.00 ERA while hurling 170 innings over 31 starts.  He will likely earn less and take a short term deal of a single year plus mutual options. 

Another name that comes up as a trade possibility with Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes and Freddy Peralta apparently no longer on the trading block is Padres starter Nick Pivetta.  He’s another workhorse which is appealing given that Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Sean Manaea and others missed significant time due to injury.  Pivetta will earn a hair under $20 million in 2026 after his stellar 2025 season during which he went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA.  In 2027 and 2028 Pivetta’s contract allows for him to opt out as his salary would dip by $5 million if he chooses not to do so.  In 2028 it rises again to $18 75 million if he decides to stay put.  Given the high probability he would only be a one year solution as his 2027 season opt out is virtually guaranteed to take place, it’s not going to cost an arm and a leg in trade assets.

Relief Pitchers

A lot of folks are so uneasy about Devin Williams being the new closer that they feel it is vitally necessary to create a 9th inning tandem with another closer level reliever.  Given what they’re already paying for their current bullpen it seems highly unlikely for that scenario to take place.  Get the ideas of a David Robertson reunion out of your head.

Instead, the names that are surfacing are the middle inning types whose abilities are solid but whose familiarity are not sure things.  One most interesting name is consider is former Colorado Rockie and Atlanta Brave Tyler Kinley.  The big right hander has had a spotty career but during his 24 game ending saga with Atlanta he was brilliant pitching to a 0.75 ERA with nearly a strikeout per inning pitched and only walking 6.  His ending WHIP for the Braves was 0.680.  He’s projected to cost around $2 million to $3 million in free agency.  Yes, that’s the type of arm who might be a suitable addition.

Another one worth considering is recently capable middle reliever Jakob Junis.  From the period of 2023 through 2025 he pitched to a 12-4 record over 219 innings pitched with nearly a strikeout per inning pitched while walking 47 which works out to better than a 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio.  For those three seasons he delivered a 3.24 ERA including last year’s 2.97 for Cleveland.  He’s in the $4 million or below price range as a free agent and looks like a smart investment. 

When the assistant GM revealed to Spanish media that the Mets are indeed planning to supplement the roster with these position reinforcements but no names were mentioned.  He did say the trade route is most definitely being considered but at this point no one knows what the plan is and who are the ranked options for any of the vacancies.  At this point I’m swallowing hard and say we should see what happens before dusting off our picket signs.  However, like most people there is no guarantee the New Year’s Resolution will remain in effect successfully.