3 mistakes the NY Mets must avoid at all costs at this year's MLB Winter Meetings

3) Don’t overpay for a set-up man

Back during the 2018 Winter Meetings, the Mets went out and signed former all-star closer Jeurys Familia to a three-year deal. The Mets had dealt Familia that previous trade deadline to the Oakland Athletics, and with then GM Brodie Van Wagenen trading for Edwin Diaz that same month, the Mets were hoping to form a strong duo at the back end of their bullpen.

Instead, signing Familia became a cautionary tale for the Mets about overpaying for set-up relievers. The Mets ended up paying Familia premium reliever money just to put up a 4.62 ERA, 4.69 FIP, and 1.56 WHIP in his return to the Mets. While that doesn’t mean the Mets should avoid going after relievers altogether, they need to be selective about who they decide to bring in.

The Mets need reliever depth behind closer Edwin Diaz. There are still plenty of relievers who will likely not cost a high-end premium that can still provide good results. Jose Leclerc, Hoby Milner, and Tim Hill are some very underrated arms. Blake Treinen, Tommy Kahnle, and former Met Paul Sewald are older but lower-cost options that can still provide good results despite advancing age.

If they want to avoid an overpay in free agency, they should look at the trade market. NL Central closers Devin Williams and Ryan Helsley are the top reliever trade targets. They could also try to acquire a buy-low target like Camilo Doval. The Tampa Bay Rays have also gotten some trade attention for relievers Pete Fairbanks and Jeffrey Springs.

The Mets can still add quality depth to their bullpen without having to overpay. The free agent market has a handful of lower-cost options that still have plenty of potential to be good. The trade market should also hold a handful of decent options where the Mets won’t have to sell off a potentially important piece to their long-term future.