3 NY Mets players who should have a reduced role in 2025 if they're not traded first

Finding the appropriate role for David Peterson will be a Mets' priority

It might sound weird to minimize the role of a pitcher who posted a 2.90 ERA in 21 starts last season, but that's exactly what the Mets should do with David Peterson.

Currently the rotation's only southpaw, and presumptive number-two starter as the rotation stands today, there's a lot more than meets the eye with Peterson's 2024 performance. For starters, his expected ERA last season was a lot less sterling sitting at 4.58 indicating there was a lot of luck involved in his actual outcomes on the mound.

Much of that was driven by his unsustainable home run rate of 0.6 HR/9, a far cry from his career average of 1.01. It's more than fair to expect a regression to the mean, even for a pitcher who excels at generating groundballs with a 50.1% groundball rate in 2024 which was almost identical to his career rate of 50.3%.

More concerning, however, is his dramatic increase in strikeouts. From 2022 to 2023 Peterson posted K/9 rates of 10.73 and 10.38 respectively. Those numbers were a good amount above average and portrayed a pitcher who can limit damage despite walking a few too many batters, especially when combined with his penchant for generating ground balls.

However, in 2024 his strikeout rate took a nosedive to just 7.51 K/9. Assuming that's the pitcher he is moving forward while expecting a home run rate more in line with league average, the prospect of Peterson being at the head of a rotation is alarming.

The Mets have been linked to top free-agent starters like Corbin Burnes and Max Fried. They're also likely to pursue some more economical options. They may even have some interest in bringing back some of their own free agents like Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and Jose Quintana.

Unlike the two players mentioned above, the 29-year-old Peterson isn't a prime trade candidate. He's still affordable salary-wise and in the right role provides the Mets with value. Ideally, that role is at the back of the rotation as a fifth or sixth starter as the Mets look for acceptable performance while having enough depth to withstand injuries and spell Senga.

Two things are certain - Peterson won't be the opening day number two, and he won't be the rotation's sole lefty. Ideally, he won't be counted on much to do the heavy lifting in the Amazins' rotation.