NY Mets rumors: David Stearns has no reason not to sign free agent fan favorite today

It's no secret that the New York Mets bullpen needs some help. Outside of Edwin Diaz, there is no reliever that fans can trust. While some relievers have gone through really impressive stretches, they have also gone through stretches where they can't get a batter out. Because of this inconsistency, getting a reliever or two is a must for David Stearns and company at the trade deadline.

However, with the deadline two and a half weeks away, it's going to be a little bit before the Mets can get a trade that works for them. In the meantime, they should explore other options outside of trades to upgrade the bullpen. One potential option is bringing back former reliever David Robertson. Here's what Robertson would bring to the Mets, and why he could be huge going down the stretch.

David Robertson is not the most desirable option, however would be a smart one

Robertson is a pitcher that many Mets fans would love to have back. He spent half of the 2023 season with the team and filled in nicely as the team's closer, after Diaz suffered a torn Patellar Tendon during the World Baseball Classic. In his 40 outings with the Mets, he had a 2.05 ERA over 44 innings with 48 strikeouts, 13 walks, a 1.000 WHIP, and a 205 ERA+. When he was traded to Miami, he landed the Mets' Marco Vargas and Ronald Hernandez, both of whom are Top 25 prospects in the Mets system.

While there are concerns about Robertson, specifically regarding his age, 40, and the nearly 900 innings he has thrown, the numbers indicate that he should be fine. Last season, he pitched in 68 games for the Texas Rangers, having a 3.00 ERA over 72 innings with 99 strikeouts, 27 walks, 1.111 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 128. These numbers should inspire confidence that Robertson still has something left and can be a decent contributor over the final 65 games of the regular season.

The reason for Robertson's success last season was the effectiveness of his cutter. It ranked in the 97th percentile of Fastball Run Value among qualified MLB pitchers. Opposing hitters struggled significantly against it, with a batting average of .163 and a xwOBA of .249. It also produced a whiff of 30.8%. Even with the pitch sitting in the low 90s, it does enough to keep the hitters off guard.

Now, it's important to note that Robertson does not solve the Mets' bullpen problems. Whether they decide to sign him or not, they'll still need to make at least a trade for a reliever. However, Robertson can be a solid middle reliever the Mets can lean on in the sixth or seventh innings. He also has experience pitching in high-leverage and postseason situations, which would be a significant bonus. If the Mets want to get back to the playoffs, they need to do everything possible to upgrade the bullpen.