NY Mets: Replenishing with possible free agent pitching options

Like most teams in the Major Leagues, the New York Mets will have a menu-like list of interests for this offseason in free agency and in-house operations. Will pitching top that list?

As the 2021 postseason continues to excite the baseball world, Mets fans are just as busy as the front office, pondering ideas of what the offseason markets will look like and how it may serve the 2022 Mets roster. Yes, there are fixes to structure within the organization, from the field to the front office.  The Mets may consider a new General Manager and still need to hire a new field manager. There are key players entering the free agent market; who will come back?

Pitching will be the Mets’ top priority come this offseason. As I previously touched on, we expect to have our ace, Jacob deGrom back in 2022 action, hopefully in better health than ever. Marcus Stroman, Rich Hill, Jeurys Familia, Brad Hand, Aaron Loup and Heath Hembree will all be free agents.  The Mets will have to replenish arms that won’t be returning.  Whom might this consist of?

Mets top realistic options of free agent pitching targets

Eduardo Rodriguez

South-Paw pitcher, currently with the ALCS contending Boston Red Sox, finished the year with a 13-8 record, with 185 strikeouts in 157.0 innings pitched and a 4.74 ERA.  Rodriguez is a free agent after the postseason concludes.  He’s been a key pitching piece in Boston’s postseason berth.

Robbie Ray

Toronto employed a few promising arms this year; Robbie Ray’s name came out on top as a possible CY-Young candidate, putting up a 13-7 record with a low 2.84 ERA, 248 strikeouts in 193.1 innings pitched. He was a power house for Toronto and would have been the go-to wild card game pitcher if it lined up that way. Solid arm to fit the Mets rotation.

Wade Miley

Another south-paw, winning 12 and losing 7 in 2021 for the Cincinnati Reds. Miley is a L/L 6’2”, 220lb monster with a biting fastball from the left side. He struck out 125 sticks in 163 innings this year. He has a club option.

Relievers

Hector Neris

Right-handed relief pitcher, spent 2021 with the Philadelphia Phillies, going 4-7 with 12 saves, 98 strikeouts in 74.1 innings and a 3.63 ERA. 32 years of age and can eat up innings.

Corey Knebel

Right-handed reliever for the NLCS contending Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA, 3 saves, 30 strikeouts in 25.2 innings.  Can also eat up innings with quality appearances.

Want your voice heard? Join the Rising Apple team!

Write for us!

The Mets have work cut out for the front office.  Pitching will be crucial as free agency will have us limping throughout the offseason.