Mets get a head start on the offseason by adding a former All-Star and World Series Champion

Late October is generally not the time to make significant moves, at least not from outside of the organization. This hasn’t stopped David Stearns from being proactive in looking at some depth additions. The New York Mets are reportedly in an agreement with veteran hurler Chris Devenski.

It’s a name you probably recall from his days with the Houston Astros. In a similar mold as Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek from this past year except he participated way back in 2017, Devenski has seen better days in his career. An All-Star in 2017 and World Series Champion later on, it was the peak of his career.

A 2.16 ERA in 2016 in 108.1 innings of work mostly as a reliever and a 2.68 ERA performance as a sophomore for the Astros, it looked like Devenski was destined to remain a stud in their bullpen. His ERA ticked up to 4.18 and then 4.83. Since 2021, he has been a journeyman looking to recapture his glory days.

Don't expect Chris Devenski to be a sneaky good addition by the Mets

Devenski has played for four different major league teams since leaving the Astros. From the 2021-2024 season, he has combined to go 11-6 with a 6.13 ERA in 91 innings. There’s a reason why he spent a good amount of his time in Triple-A this past year for the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners. Devenski just doesn’t have “it” any longer.

Not even the Rays were able to tap into Devenski. A limited 8.2 innings in 2023 with them resulted in a 2.08 ERA performance and enough for them to sign him to a MLB contract. He rewarded them by going 2-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 26.2 innings. Allowing 9 home runs in the limited opportunities was one of the main reasons why his ERA became so inflated. A higher than average walk rate didn’t help shield this weakness either.

A lot has been made about the Mets in their attempt to become the “Dodgers East” when in fact we should be viewing them more like the “Rays with Cash.” The Mets have continually added players from Tampa Bay. Phil Maton, Brooks Raley, Jake Diekman, and even Tyler Zuber at this past season’s trade deadline all came directly from a stint in Tampa Bay. Known for their smarts when it comes to developing pitching, it can’t hurt to learn more about what the Rays tried to teach Devenski and where everything seemed to go wrong.

Set the excitement level the same place you will with your neighbor’s Christmas presents for 2034; non-existent. Devenski won’t be on the 40-man to start the year because of this being a minor league deal which should receive little complaints. In fact, you might need to stab a needle through a toe to feel anything at all with this pre-offseason announcement.

Will he end up as an Andre Scrubb, Cole Sulser, or Danny Young for the 2025 Mets? We’ll find out in a few months.