Mets: Three reasons David Peterson will help the Mets this offseason

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 02: David Peterson #77 of the New York Mets pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 2, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 02: David Peterson #77 of the New York Mets pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 2, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: David Peterson #77 high-fives Robinson Chirinos #26 of the New York Mets after the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on September 19, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

David Peterson has helped the New York Mets in the 2020 regular season and will offer up some assistance in the offseason as well.

David Peterson was pushed onto the New York Mets roster a little ahead of schedule this year. Injuries, opt-outs, and some confidence in the kid helped him crack the roster early on in the shortened 60-game season of 2020.

Peterson wasted little time in showing the front office and fans that he might be better than expected. A highly-regarded prospect in their farm system, Peterson isn’t one of those “can’t miss prospect” around the entire league. We expected him to be good, but maybe not this productive so quickly.

It looks like the stars are aligning for Peterson to have a big role with the Mets yet again in 2021. Their need for starting pitching should make him an easy choice for the rotation from Opening Day. He’s vital for the team’s future and between the end of 2020 and the start of 2021, there are three reasons why his existence is valuable to the Mets.

Peterson is better than most free agents

Call me crazy, but after a handful of starts as a rookie, I think Peterson is already better than most of the free agent starting pitchers available this winter. Okay, maybe it’s not such a crazy claim. Free agency often gets filled up with has-beens, a dozen never-was, and the occasional guy who suddenly lost all of his talent over the winter.

The best pitchers in baseball don’t always make it to free agency so it’s not insane to say Peterson can outpitch many of them.

Major League Baseball has become a younger player’s game in recent years. We have seen how owners value their young players more than ever with early extensions and a little shade thrown at free agents. MLB nomads are no longer guaranteed to get paid big bucks. These days, many often settle for minor league deals.

We have only sipped from what Peterson can offer the Mets. Already, he should be able to give the team more than many of the other arms available on the open market.