2) Jake Diekman
The Mets added veteran left-handed reliever Jake Diekman to a one-year contract prior to the 2024 season. 2023 was a mixed bag for Diekman. He opened the year with the Chicago White Sox, but allowed ten earned runs, 13 walks, and 11 hits over 11.1 innings. The White Sox released him at the start of May, but was subsequently picked up by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays did what they do best, and immediately turned Diekman around, as he pitched to the tune of a 2.18 ERA, 28.6% K%, two home runs, and a 1.13 WHIP over his last 45.1 innings of 2023.
The Mets were hoping for that version of Diekman when they picked him up, but he ended up looking more like his time with the White Sox. Diekman pitched 32 innings for the Mets, working to a 5.63 ERA, 6.14 FIP, and 1.47 WHIP. While he maintained a healthy 27.6% strikeout rate, his 16.6% walk rate was one of the many reasons he struggled. Opponents regularly took Diekman deep, with a 1.97 HR/9 ratio and a 10.7% barrel percentage.
The Mets then designated Diekman for assignment at the end of July and released him at the start of August. After the 2024 season, the division rival Atlanta Braves signed Diekman to a minor league contract, but he was released before the end of Spring Training. He then signed with the American Association Lincoln Saltdogs in late April, and while he appeared in three games for them, he announced his retirement in late May. His last game in the Major Leagues was in a Mets uniform, and his MLB career unfortunately ended with a whimper.
