3 pitchers the NY Mets beat up in the playoffs that could be added this offseason

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It’s that time of year again in the baseball calendar: the weird lull coming off the high of the postseason and the slow buildup of intrigue surrounding the offseason. In what was supposed to be a transition year, the New York Mets put together an improbable run that catapulted them to a National League showdown with the eventual World Series champions Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, a surge of momentum and optimism hangs in the balance, teetering on how much the Mets can do to add instead of dwelling on what they subtract.

One does not have to look far to notice key vacancies in the starting rotation and the bullpen exist. While resigning the likes of Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and Ryne Stanek are at the top of the list, there are certainly other viable options that exist in the free agent pool and trade market.

And just to make things a little more interesting, the Mets may not have to look very far in plugging those holes. Especially when they got a firsthand look at these three pitchers during postseason play.

1) Devin Williams

Let’s start with the Wild Card round where the stage was set for a magical 2024 Mets postseason run. Staring down the barrel of their elimination, the Mets rallied for a four-spot in the top of the 9th, highlighted by Alonso’s three-run homer off Brewers All-Star closer Devin Williams.

Fast forward and the Brewers have declined the $10.5 million 2025 club option for Williams, fueling speculation that the high-profile closer is on the trading block either this offseason or at next season’s Trade Deadline.

Injuries have been somewhat of an issue for Williams throughout his career, including this past season where stress fractures in his back placed the 2023 National League Reliever of the Year on the shelf for four months. But despite the diminished quantity, the quality was vintage, posting a 1.25 ERA and recording 14 saves in 22 appearances this year. In sum, the closer’s stats are even more impressive from a 1.83 career ERA to a measly batting average against (.157) and hard-hit rate (29.2%) that are well below league averages.

Putting the injuries and Alonso’s heroics aside, the addition of Devin Williams lengthens any bullpen’s final ensemble. For the Mets, the flamethrowing fastball and hard slider of Edwin Diaz coupled with the devastating split-changeup in Williams’ repertoire would make for a ruthless 8th, 9th inning dichotomy that would leave any lineup off balance.

The first option may prove to be the toughest to acquire, but David Stearns has not been shy about engaging in trades with his former employer.

2) Jack Flaherty

The National League Championship series showed us both the best and worst of Jack Flaherty. From racking up six K’s and only allowing two hits over seven scoreless innings in Game 1 to giving up eight runs in a span of three innings, the California native presents an interesting case…or rather a gamble.

In Flaherty’s best campaign (2019), the then-Cardinals starter posted the lowest WHIP and H/9 through 33 starts, finishing fourth in best pitcher honors in the National League. Then came a three-year span where Flaherty never pitched over 80 innings in those seasons, held back by various ailments. Follow that with a 108-inning jump from 2022 to 2023 and you can guess how things panned out for the right-hander (8-9, 4.99 ERA, 1.58 WHIP).

But once again, Flaherty displayed he can return to top form, making 18 starts for the Detroit Tigers and pitching to a 2.95 ERA, .956 WHIP, and 3.48 FIP before being sent to his hometown team in a deadline transaction. Seeing what Flaherty can do on the biggest stage, there is no question several teams will be interested in the 29-year-old’s pitching services.

If there is anything the Mets learned from their six-game date with the World Series champions, it’s the importance of quality arm depth. Flaherty slots into the rotation as a top-end starter, capable of putting up a respectable number of innings and digging deep when it matters most.

3) Jeff Hoffman

In his first All-Star season, Jeff Hoffman proved to be an integral piece of the Phillies bullpen en route to its 12th division title. But as the Mets offense tagged the reliever in key late-inning situations in both Game 1 and Game 3 of the NLCS, it’s another instance of whether you evaluate a player’s body of work, or microcosms of underperformance when it matters the most.

While the Mets will be feasting on the marquee free agents and flashy names to add to their roster during the baseball season hiatus, a complete championship roster is supplemented by prudent moves and adding at the margins. Hoffman would profile as being one of those pieces. In his tenure with the Phillies, Hoffman served as a high-leverage arm, tallying 11 saves, 2.28 ERA, and .94 WHIP through nearly 120 innings.

What makes the case for Hoffman so intriguing is the valuation possibility of converting the soon-to-be 32-year-old right-handed reliever to a backend starter. Before being moved to the Cincinnati Reds bullpen in 2021, Hoffman was a rotational piece with the Reds and Rockies during the early portions of his career. With the success he garnered this year, perhaps he will take one more crack at the starting role.

Given the state of the Mets' pitching staff, adding Hoffman would be a “killing two birds with one stone” move. At the right price, the addition of Hoffman may be reflected upon as one of the key additions the Mets made to pursue a deep postseason run.

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3 pitchers the Mets beat up in the postseason they could look to acquire this offseason

1) Devin Williams

2) Jack Flaherty

3) Jeff Hoffman

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