The New York Mets signed Robert Stock to a one-year major-league contract, adding depth to their 40-man roster now at 41 players. The veteran pitched in eight games for them in 2026, going 1-3 with a 5.93 ERA over 30.1 innings, including seven starts, before a finger injury sidelined him. Despite the surface numbers, his 3.92 FIP hints at some tough luck on balls in play, and fans see it as solid organizational depth even if his long-term role points to the bullpen.
GROK –
Robert Stock is a
right-handed pitcher (throws R, bats L) known as a journeyman who has adapted
his arsenal extensively using analytics, arm-slot changes (including a lower
three-quarters slot), and data-driven adjustments. He is an early adopter of
pitch modeling and has refined offerings like his sinker and changeup over
time.
2026 MLB pitch usage
He throws a six-pitch mix:
Cutter: ~31.6%
(most-used), avg. ~91.1 mph (tops ~95), ~2,391 RPM. Primary pitch; short
horizontal break.
4-Seam Fastball: ~23.8%,
avg. ~95.8 mph (tops ~98), ~2,285 RPM. Thrown more up in the zone; solid
velocity and ride relative to release.
Sinker: ~22.3%, avg.
~94.1 mph (tops ~98), ~2,193 RPM. Strong armside run (often high teens of
inches of horizontal break) with low/near-zero induced vertical break in prior
looks; used for ground balls/weak contact, especially down in the zone.
Sweeper: ~12.1%, avg.
~80.9 mph (tops ~84), ~2,500 RPM. Significant horizontal sweep (often ~15–19+
inches); primarily vs. righties as a bat-misser.
Changeup: ~8.6%, avg.
~80.9 mph, lower spin (~1,579 RPM). Used mostly vs. lefties; features fade/run
and has been refined (e.g., vulcan-style grip adjustments for spin axis).
Curveball / Knuckle Curve: ~1.6% (rarely used), avg. ~79–80
mph, higher spin.
Usage notes: Higher cutter/sinker rates vs. right-handers;
more 4-seam and changeup vs. left-handers. Velocities and shapes can vary
slightly by year/level (e.g., he has touched triple digits earlier in his
career). His arsenal emphasizes movement differentiation (especially horizontal
between sinker and sweeper) and modern “stuff” profiles rather than pure
velocity.
Context
In 2026 he made 7 starts + 1 relief appearance for the Mets
(1-3, 5.93 ERA in 30.1 IP) after thoracic outlet syndrome surgery earlier that
year, then re-signed on a one-year deal.
Career MLB: mostly relief early on (high-velo 4-seam/slider
focus), later expanded into a more starter-oriented mix with sinker, cutter,
and sweeper.
I know some people are excited about this Stock option (morning Ernest). I'm not. Just another waste of a 40 man addition on a meh player..
ReplyDeleteMakes no sense to me.
Supposedly, he is an analytics darling. So of course, Stearns is interested. Again.
ReplyDeleteAfter Mike Piazza posted on X how teams shouldn’t be so dependent on analytics, Stock took that post and knocked it. Well, Mets fans weren’t having that and bitched him out. He told them to unfollow him. He’s going to get boo’ed very bad. He’s an idiot.
On the one hand, hes a nice depth piece, who i would prefer be a "mop up" guy who pitches maybe one time through order, but in worst case scenario hop into rotation briefly.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, why is Stearns signing a few of these type guys before time comes to give top prospects 40man spots to protect from rule 5?
That’s what I asked Dove.
DeleteOh snap!! That is YOU Ernest! I thought I was replying to Mack. The eyes weren’t fully open yet
DeleteWe are setting ourselves up for a Stock crash.
ReplyDeleteI think the logic of this kind of signing may be the following. Sign X to major league contract. Then DFA them; they are not attractive waiver choices because of the major league contract. So they pass through waivers. They are then reassigned to Syracuse, but paid at a major league contract level and team maintains control of them as depth piece but not on the 40 man roster.
ReplyDeleteIf this is the strategy, and it is doable, it makes more than enough sense to be employed selectively
At 36, i dont see Stock going to the minors.
DeleteI don't put any Stock on what our resident Genius does anymore. Next he will bring back Montas.
ReplyDeleteViper, I don’t know about Frankie Montas, but check this Montas note out:
ReplyDeleteÁngel Montas (Third Baseman / Prospect)
• Current Status: A slugging 15-year-old third baseman from Santo Domingo, DR.
• 2028 Outlook: expected to sign with the Blue Jays for a reported $5.5 million bonus once he officially becomes eligible in January 2028.
HE MUST REALLY BE GOOD.
Every signing costs money. Most of these type of signings end up in DFA, which is a waste of time and money. He was not bad last year, but he is 37. Not expecting a big performance increase anymore - we have already seen his best.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Stock represents a DFA return to minors to provide stability and mentoring on staff and a potential one game at a time call up if necessary given his experience. Paying that major league contract difference is enough to keep him from choosing free agency. This is not money aimlessly spent. It should not be viewed as a depth piece or as a decision about rostering him ultimately. There just are some small strategic decisions that are made when the opportunity arises. This is not an assertion that they will work out. Just an argument that they are not 'more of the same' or irrational
ReplyDelete