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NY Mets: Five free agents to return the pitching staff to prominence

By Nicholas Kyriacou

Sep 22, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 03: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets delivers the pitch in the second inning of an MLB game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 3, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

With new ownership pending for the New York Mets here is how the team should reload for the 2021 season.

Once again, the New York Mets bullpen finds itself at the top of the priorities list heading into the offseason. This year, however, due to a combination of injuries and free agency departures, the starting rotation also needs a significant tune-up before the team reports to training camp next February.

This is the situation that incoming owner, Steve Cohen will face right as the hot stove season kicks into high gear, and he’ll need to prioritize spending on pitching, first and foremost, before shopping for a catcher and everyday centerfielder.

Luckily for him, there is already a core of young and experienced arms currently under contract who will provide a working foundation from which Cohen and his front office can add to and build around.

Jacob deGrom and David Peterson seem to be the only starting pitchers that can be penciled-in for next season’s rotation while the statuses of Noah Syndergaard (recovering from Tommy-John surgery), Steven Matz, Michael Wacha, and Rick Porcello all have question marks next to their names heading into the winter.

Similarly, the only arms in the bullpen who are expected to return in some capacity are Edwin Díaz and Jeurys Familia, while the rest of the supporting cast are up for further evaluation (i.e. player options, arbitration, a return to the minors, etc.).

As a result, here are the free agent arms that the Mets should look to retain or target for 2021: RHP Alex Colomé, SP Kevin Gausman, RHP Liam Hendriks, RHP Erasmo Ramírez and SP Marcus Stroman.

While the potential return of both Marcus Stroman and Erasmo Ramírez would, I think, contribute an element of swagger to the Mets rotation along with a reliable arms for their bullpen, Gausman, Hendriks, and Colomé would, in turn, bring stability to a pitching staff that finds itself short on talent heading into the 2021 season along with veteran leadership to a bullpen in desperate need of proven Major League talent.

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