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.