NY Mets: 10 best free agents for Steve Cohen to buy this winter

Sep 22, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Justin Wilson (38) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Justin Wilson (38) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 10
Next
Mets
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 16: Starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi #12 of the Minnesota Twins throws the baseball in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 16, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

9) Jake Odorizzi

Outside of Jacob deGrom, the starting rotation was an absolute disaster this season. With that in mind, the Mets will need to bring in at least one starter, and preferably two this offseason. I think one of the arms the Mets should take a look at is Jake Odorizzi. This season, Odorizzi battled a back injury, a chest injury, and a blister on his finger, and only made four starts.

Those four starts did not go well, as he went 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA in 13.2 innings of work. However, the injuries have been limited in Odorizzi’s career. In the six seasons prior, Odorizzi made at least 28 starts per season including 30 last season. In those 30 starts, Odorizzi went 15-7 with a 3.57 ERA, striking out 178 batters in 159 innings of work. He made his first all-star team, and started game three of the ALDS for Minnesota.

Over his career, Odorizzi has gone 62-56 with a 3.92 ERA in 192 starts for the Twins and Rays. Despite his trouble with injuries this year, he’s been capable of taking the ball every fifth day and giving his team five or six quality innings per start. Last season, he allowed 3 walks per nine innings and only 0.9 home runs per nine. The home run number, especially with the drastic increase in home runs is very impressive and encouraging for whoever ends up signing him.

I believe as a back end of the rotation arm he will be a lot more useful than Porcello and Wacha were and is definitely someone the Mets should look into.