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

Jake McGee

A much more appealing contract at $9.5 million with an option for 2021, Jake McGee is another reliever on Colorado they could be looking to dump. His salary also matches up well with Jed Lowrie’s $10 million for 2020, making him a better match than Davis.

McGee for Lowrie wouldn’t make much sense for the Rockies given how much more important the former could be to New York than the latter to Colorado. Despite his struggles, McGee did have a 4.35 ERA last year and a 3.61 back in 2017. He was roughed up most in 2018 when he ended the year with a 6.49 ERA.

The great fear with McGee is that home runs absolutely killed him last year. He gave up a rate of 2.4 per nine innings—an outrageous total with an ERA+ of still 120. McGee pitched to contact last year with a good walk rate and below-average strikeout numbers.

What I do like about McGee is his left-handed arm. It’s quite clear the Mets could use another southpaw in the bullpen. McGee, however, is likely not the option to go with.

Because he did pitch in Colorado last year, it’s worth looking at his home and road splits. These tell a positive story for McGee. At Coors Field, McGee had a 5.95 ERA. While on the road, it was at 2.91.

Still, there’s a risk. McGee had a lower season ERA than Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia. Both of them pitched plenty at Citi Field which typically favors pitchers.

At a cheaper price that allows the Mets some flexibility, McGee isn’t such a bad consideration. The thing Colorado air surely played a major factor in holding him back from having a good year in 2019. Maybe a change of scenery could change everything.