3 good free agent fits for the NY Mets somehow still available

3) Spencer Turnbull

The Mets added some pitchers who will slot into the back of their rotation in the forms of Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes, who will go from closer to starter. But they are taking a risk and should add more depth. One pitcher who could add an arm to both the bullpen and rotation is Spencer Turnbull. The right-hander spent the 2024 season with the division rival Philadelphia Phillies, and while he missed the second half of the season, he still put up decent numbers overall.

Turnbull pitched 54.1 innings, working to a 2.65 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and solid 3.85 FIP. His 26.1% K% was the first time he struck out over a quarter of the batters he faced in a single season. He also had a solid 0.99 HR/9 rate, helped by the fact he had an 87.8 MPH exit velo and a 7.2% barrel rate. The only peripheral he was below average in was walk rate, clocking in at 9%.

Like Estevez, Turnbull’s ERA was helped out by an abnormally low batting average on balls in play, clocking in at .233, compared to .300 for his entire career. Although he may not project as a sub-3.00 ERA pitcher, he still had solid underlying numbers, including a 3.80 xFIP, 3.67 SIERA, and 4.05 xERA.

Turnbull is a better alternative than either Griffin Canning, and especially Paul Blackburn. He has a much higher ceiling, given his 112 Stuff+ mark from last season, and is coming off a better year, even if he was limited to less than 60 frames. Turnbull made 17 total appearances, seven of which were starts, so he can be an option out of the Mets’ pen or start games when needed.