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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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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 07: Liam Hendriks #16 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 07, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

RHP Liam Hendriks, and a homegrown pitcher’s return to the pen

A reliable option for late inning relief has become one of the most elusive assets for Mets fans in any given game. So in the interest of choosing one out of the many available veteran relievers hitting the market this winter (like Shane Greene, Trevor Rosenthal, Blake Treinen, Jose Alvarez, and Luis Avilan), RP Liam Hendriks fits the Mets needs across the board, as a dependable late-inning arm that can get the job done.

Coming off his AL Reliever of the Year honors in 2020, Hendriks would be an upgrade to this area of the roster and elevate the Mets improvements to the bullpen.  Over the past several seasons, has established himself as one of the more dominant relievers in the league.

He earned a spot on the American League all-star team in 2019 before finishing the season with a 1.80 ERA through 75 game appearances. Even more recently, at the end of the 2020 season, he finished with a 1.78 ERA and 0.67 WHIP in 25.1 IP.

Owing to his command of a Four-seam Fastball, Slider, Curve, Circle Change, and Sinker, Hendriks has developed an impressive repertoire that he has been able to wield against AL batters over these past two seasons.

Likewise, Seth Lugo is due for a reassignment back to the bullpen after posting a career-high 5.15 ERA through seven starts and nine relief appearances in 2020. In 36.2 IP, Lugo struck out 47 while maintaining a 1.36 WHIP this season. This was a significant decrease in production from his 2018 and 2019 successes where he emerged as one of the most reliable arms on the Mets pitching staff – primarily as a reliever in 2019 and a spot starter in 2018.

But in a full-season and back in the role where he experienced his highest marks, Lugo can help turnaround the team’s bullpen woes in 2021.

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