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NY Mets: NL East rivals worth adding to the roster this winter
With the New York Mets season now completed we get to start thinking of all the transactions that can be made in the offseason. Let’s look at players that the Mets could acquire from their division rivals from 2020.
Now that the New York Mets season is done and new ownership is appeared to be right around the corner, Mets fans can start dreaming all of the big-name players being brought to Queens. While dreaming of all the superstar players to possibly put on the orange and blue is fun, every team does need smaller names to compete and have a well-rounded team. The national league east division has a combination of superstar players and smaller names that the Mets could be interested in this offseason.
Looking at who is under contract next season plays a big role in what the Mets will be looking to acquire this offseason. They have plenty of infielders under control for next season (arguably too many), so adding somebody there is not as big of as a priority as behind the plate where a team option should and likely will be declined.
Let’s take a look at who from the NL East the Mets could consider acquiring this offseason.
Atlanta Braves – Josh Tomlin and/or Shane Green
We are going to start off with what I think could be the most interesting person chosen in Josh Tomlin. Tomlin brings something the Mets are in need of, pitching versatility and depth. Although his numbers in his career are not the most eye-popping, he can bring a lot to the club.
Tomlin has started as many as 29 games in a season and has come out of the bullpen as many as 50 times in a season. With the Mets having a lot of question marks with their pitching whether it be the consistency of guys in the bullpen or lack of rotation depth, Tomlin can help sure up the bullpen and provide depth in the rotation. He will be a free agent following the conclusion of the postseason so the Mets would not have to give up any more prospects.
Just as recently as 2019 he put up a respectable 3.79 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 79.1 innings while starting one game for the Braves. 2020 was a little bit of a step backward as he had a 4.76 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP in 39.2 innings while starting 5 games, but did have a 4.02 FIP so he was a bit unlucky. Tomlin was on a minor league deal this season so it would appear he could be got for cheap again next season.
Up next is another pitcher on the Braves in Shane Greene. Similar to his teammate Tomlin, Greene does have experience starting games in the major leagues, but the most recent year was in 2016 when he only started 3. Going forward, it is safe to assume that Greene would be strictly a bullpen piece which is not bad by any means.
Greene has been a little inconsistent throughout his career but did just post back-to-back good seasons between 2019 and 2020. In 2019 he put up a 2.30 ERA with a 1.005 WHIP in 62.2 innings and appearing in his first and only All-Star game. 2020 was another great year as well as he put up a 2.60 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP in 27.2 innings.
With the Mets possibly losing a few bullpen pieces due to multiple player options and Seth Lugo possibly staying in the rotation in 2021, the Mets could use another bullpen arm.
Miami Marlins – Brad Boxberger and/or Brandon Kintzler
Keeping up the trend with pitchers we have relief pitcher Brad Boxberger. Boxberger has quietly put together a pretty solid career over 9 years. He holds a 3.56 career ERA and 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
2019 was not kind to Boxberger as he struggled mightily, putting up a 5.40 ERA and a 1.575 WHIP in 26.2 innings. He did bounce back nicely in 2020 posting a 3.00 ERA and a 1.389 WHIP in 18 innings. Boxberger could be a nice addition to a Mets bullpen that is possibly losing a handful of guys.
Up next on the Marlins, another relief pitcher in Brandon Kintzler. Just like his bullpen mate Boxberger, Kintzler has also put together a quietly nice career. In 11 years he has put together 3.31 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, with less than 1 home run allowed per nine innings.
Kintzler has put together back-to-back solid seasons in 2019 and 2020. In 2019 he posted a 2.68 ERA and a 1.018 WHIP in 57 innings. His 2020 was just as good, with a 2.22 ERA, a 1.315 WHIP, and 12 saves for Miami.
Kintzler does have a team option for $4M for the 2021 season which should be picked up, but if it is not Kintzler could be on the Mets radar to help sure up the bullpen. Even if the Marlins do pick up his option it is still worth calling to see what it would take to land him.
Philadelphia Phillies – J.T. Realmuto
It should come as no surprise to see J.T. Realmuto as the guy to target from the Phillies. A gold glove catcher who can hit and has some speed for a guy behind the plate is always someone to keep an eye on. With the Mets more than likely declining their team option of $10M on Wilson Ramos for the 2021 season, Realmuto is the guy to go for.
Realmuto is a guy that the Mets have lacked behind the plate for some time now. He is an all-around player, but more importantly for the Mets is that he is solid defensively. The Mets have lacked an everyday defensively sound catcher for a while, and Realmuto would be just that.
Realmuto won a gold glove in 2019 and led the league in caught stealing percentage with a whopping 47% (league average was 26%). His total zone fielding runs above average (the number of runs below or above average based on the number of plays they made) was 17 which was a career-high. 2020 was a small step backward, but still positive with 4 runs and 25% caught stealing.
On top of the great defensive that Realmuto brings, he is also a strong bat at the plate. In 2019 he slashed .275/.328/.493/.820 with 25 home runs and 83 RBI, both career highs in 593 plate appearances. He was just as good in 2020 putting up a .266/.349/.491/.840 slash line with 11 home runs and 32 RBI in 195 plate appearances.
Realmuto is a guy that the Mets definitely need to and should try to steal away from the Phillies this offseason.
Washington Nationals – Kurt Suzuki
The final guy in the National League East that the Mets could acquire is Kurt Suzuki. Suzuki is not just a good fallback option if the Mets do miss out on Realmuto, but a good choice at catcher in general for the 2021 season.
Suzuki has put together a nice career, especially the last couple of years for teams in the NL East. In 2019 Suzuki slashed .264/.324/.486/.809 with 17 home runs and 63 RBI in only 85 games and 309 plate appearances. His 2020 season was a small step backward from a power standpoint, but he was still good overall. He slashed .270/.349/.396/.745 with 2 home runs 17 RBI in 129 plate appearances.
Suzuki’s defensive numbers were not great in the last two seasons, but they were better in 2020 than in 2019. In 2019 his total zone total fielding runs above average was -7 and he only caught 10% of runners stealing, while the league average was 26% and his career average is 23%. 2020 was a step in the right direction as his total zone total fielding runs above average was lowered to -4 and his caught stealing percentage went up to 15% with the league average at 24%.
Although Suzuki is not Realmuto, he could still be a nice addition to a Mets team in need of some help behind the plate. He can provide a decent bat and not too terrible defense, along with veteran leadership and postseason success.
There are plenty of quality players from the NL East that will be available in free agency this offseason or through trade. With the Mets in need of some positions more than others and certain players from the NL East available, we could very well see a former Mets rival in the orange and blue next season.
Next. Mets backup catcher options for 2021
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Is there anyone else from the NL East you want to see the Mets consider acquiring?