Useful NY Mets player with a 0.96 ERA last year is worth keeping around (for now)

Selecting off of waivers from the San Francisco Giants in January, we understand fully what David Stearns intended when the New York Mets added Austin Warren to the roster. He was days away from turning 29 and someone who struggled to stick in the majors. Warren would provide the Mets with experienced depth to use regularly out of the bullpen whenever a fresh arm was needed.

Warren would go on to have a 0.96 ERA in 5 appearances. A solo home run allowed against the New York Yankees in early July was the lone run to cross the plate against him. In early August, he tossed 4 of his 9.1 innings versus his ex-ball club, the Giants, delivering 4 shutout frames for what felt like a valiant effort to save the weaponized Mets bullpen.

It was the last time we’d see Warren pitch for the Mets despite the consistent success. More useful than a true contender for a significant role, he’s someone we should expect to linger around on the Mets roster for at least a little while longer.

Austin Warren isn’t anything more than a Mets roster backup plan who’ll linger on the roster until spring

Warren actually has an ERA below 2.00 in three of his five big league seasons. Now a perfect 7-0 with a 2.79 ERA in 58 career big league innings, he has had some pretty good stretches in his MLB career. His 4.97 ERA in Syracuse last season in 50.2 innings punches against the idea of making Warren anything more than what he was last season.

One of those rare players who has better numbers in the majors than minors (we can credit a smaller sample here), Warren has been quite exceptional at striking out Triple-A hitters. His rate of 10.8 K/9 exceeds the 7.3 K/9 in the majors by a distinguishable yet less surprising margin.

Warren’s status is far different this year. Last season, with the ability to go back and forth from the majors to the minors, he fit the club’s plans. Not so much any longer. While promising on the mound in a small amount of time he was given, anything short of an emergency will probably have Warren DFA’d before Opening Day, possibly passing through waivers and reassigned to Syracuse. He makes sense as minor league depth on the roster bubble. Anything more and the Mets are in serious trouble.