New York Mets: Five best relievers to add to the bullpen this winter

Last year, the Mets saw multiple pitchers in their closer role and in 2021, it would be wise to consider adding the 2019 saves leader

In 2019, no closer in baseball locked up more games than Kirby Yates. Having reinvented himself, predominantly through way of a devastating splitter, the right-hander took baseball by storm a year ago and after an on-its-head 2020, Yates is looking to re-establish his dominance once again.

2020 was brutal for Yates and that’s putting it kindly. In six games, the righty threw 4.1 innings, faced 25 batters and had a WHIP of 2.54, an ERA of 12.46 with a 5.27 FIP. The season would end abruptly, which was probably a blessing in disguise, as Yates would require surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.

However, much like Trevor Rosenthal, despite the horrendous stint in 2020, it would be unwise to think the regression is permanent. Before 2020, Yates had back-to-back years of 60+ innings and while he wasn’t assuming the closer role full time in 2018, he was still incredibly effective with an ERA of 2.54 and a WHIP under 1.00.

Yates was a feel-good story as he made the all-star team in 2019, just two years after being claimed off waivers by the Padres. The rejuvenation of his splitter is what caused Yates to strikeout 101 batters in 60.2 innings pitched that year.

While this offseason is far from what Yates probably imagined coming off his all-star season a year ago, there’s still plenty of value that he possesses. The bone chips in his elbow were likely the cause of his ineffectiveness and given the time to recover from surgery, it could be to the Mets benefit to explore a low-cost, one-year deal for Yates.

It’s unsure if Yates is looking to sign somewhere that doesn’t promise a closer role, but given the down year in 2020, he’ll be looking to re-establish his value and Queens seems like just the place for him to do it.