Should the Mets take a chance trading for one of the fallen Rockies relievers?

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 05: Pitcher Wade Davis #71 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on May 05, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 05: Pitcher Wade Davis #71 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on May 05, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 21: Potential New York Mets trade target Wade Davis #71 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after defeating the New York Yankees 8-4 at Yankee Stadium on July 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Should the New York Mets investigate a possible trade with the Colorado Rockies for one of their highly paid relievers?

The New York Mets know all about having a bad bullpen. Last year’s relief corps put together one of the worst performances fans could imagine.

The Mets are far from alone. In recent years, the Colorado Rockies tried their best to win with the typical offense-first strategy and a new and improved bullpen. Unfortunately for them, it didn’t work out.

Heading into the 2020 season, the Rockies look prepared to potentially take a step back. While trading Nolan Arenado pretty much puts them into a rebuild mode, trading a few other pieces may simply help them reset. The team has three relievers on big contracts that didn’t work out, making me wonder whether the Mets should take a look at adding one of them.

Wade Davis

At $17 million for 2020 and another $15 million available to him on a mutual option for the 2021 campaign, Wade Davis has a chance to make a whole lot of money before he retires from baseball. He doesn’t even have to pitch very well to do it either.

The former star reliever who became the closer of the Kansas City Royals back in 2015 hasn’t enjoyed his two years with the Rockies. Although, he did lead the league with 63 games finished and 43 saves back in 2018. Davis did this while pitching to a 4.13 ERA—something I suppose you can accept for a Coors Field reliever.

The 2019 season was much worse. Davis only pitched 42.2 innings and posted an 8.65 ERA. Injuries bit him hard and his gigantic salary is an albatross on the payroll.

Even if Davis could regain his glory days, I cannot imagine paying a relief pitcher $17 million. It’s quite clear he didn’t sign with the Rockies for the Colorado school system like Mike Hampton claimed when he left the Mets. Davis went for the money and good for him.

I’ll save the game of devil’s advocate and make it perfectly clear; there’s no reason the Mets should trade for Davis unless Colorado eats 86.5% of his salary? I’m choosing this number to match his ERA last year and the idea of his contract going to the Mets in full is ridiculous.