New York Mets Trade Targets: Arizona Diamondbacks relievers

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 13: Pitcher Brad Boxberger #31 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 13, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 13: Pitcher Brad Boxberger #31 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 13, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

If the Arizona Diamondbacks are open to selling, the New York Mets should certainly be inquiring about the availability of their relievers.

The New York Mets are in dire need of bullpen reinforcements and are even looking at several free agent players such as Andrew Miller to help fill this void.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have gone from a postseason team to an average team and finally to a team looking to sell and start a rebuild.

According to reports, the D-backs will be selling off many parts and anyone is on the table for them.

This being said, a team such as the Mets who are in need of a big haul to turn the roster over and compete. They would be best suited to add about three relievers along with a solid catcher, infield and outfield depth.

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There are a vast number of tempting options on Arizona’s roster and they will likely not be had for an insignificant price.

The easiest area for the Mets to address is the bullpen because Arizona has a number of options. The three most tempting being Archie Bradley, Andrew Chafin, and Brad Boxberger.

Bradley is a game-changing reliever and there is no guarantee that Arizona will indeed let him go. If they do, it will undoubtedly take a serious sum of an offer to pry him away.

Thus the two best and most realistic options are the left-handed Chafin and the right-handed Boxberger.

They can both be valuable and productive, as they can be had for a reasonable price and that is the Mets advantage in making a trade. They cannot trade if the value is not reasonable.

Chafin has posted a sub-4 ERA in three of the last four seasons and has evolved into one of the most reliable relievers in Arizona’s bullpen. He normally occupied the seventh inning role for the Diamondbacks.

The 28-year-old reliever uses a fastball, slider, and changeup. He is a very versatile pitcher who posted superior numbers against right-handed batters than lefties last season.

However, he posted similar slugging percentages against, regardless of the opponents’ handedness.

Boxberger can fill a closer’s role well as he did for Arizona last season and previously in Tampa Bay. As the season proceeded last year, he seemed to have tired and began to struggle, pushing his ERA above four and his loss total to seven.

Yet by watching his full season one can recognize that his innings pitched rising from 29 to 51 obviously took a tole. Next season he will probably be able to last longer instead of suffering this way.

The one last portion to look at is the contract length. Boxberger has one year left of control and Chafin has two.

Boxberger would be the easiest to acquire and he would be a nice compliment to the potential signing of Andrew Miller. Chafin would make more sense as a replacement for Miller.

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Overall, one must understand that the Mets need to acquire as much bullpen talent as possible.

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