Max Kranick's NY Mets success feels like payback for Pirates trade we grew to hate

Through 9 shutout innings of 2-hit ball, Max Kranick has been exactly what we had hoped his spring training performance suggested he could become. A multi-inning stopper in the New York Mets bullpen early on with the best results of any reliever thus far this season, his arrival to the Mets prior to the 2024 season was met with a shrug. An 11th round draft pick with a 5.56 ERA in minimal major league opportunities and no MLB innings since 2022 did little to excite fans. Stashed in the minor leagues for the full 2024 season outside of a free trip to Milwaukee for the Wild Card round, his journey makes him one of the easiest to root for.

His awesome start has surprised us all. And if the universe works the way many of us hope, with karma involved, his story feels like some payback for the grief we had seeing Colin Holderman pitch so well in Pittsburgh.

The tables have turned for these two pitchers, favoring the Mets far more than we ever imagined

Speaking of Holderman who is currently on the IL, his season has been one of the most dreadful of any reliever we once grieved over losing. The 2022 trade that sent him to the Pirates for Daniel Vogelbach was acceptable. It became a pain when in 2023 Vogelbach dragged down the offense and occupied a roster spot with minimal results and abilities. Holderman was decent, pitching to a 3.86 ERA in 56 innings of work.

In year two with the Pirates, Holderman was much better. His ERA lowered to 3.16. Other numbers weren’t as good but the 51.1 inning performance helped establish him as a reliable late-inning option for Pittsburgh.

Not so much this season, eh? Before landing on the IL, Holderman threw 4.2 innings and allowed 5 earned runs while walking 4. All but one of his appearances included at least one earned run allowed. His season debut included a blown save in the 8th and two runs surrendered to the Miami Marlins in what became a bloodbath first series for the Pirates with the Marlins walking them off three times. Holderman wasn’t much better against the Tampa Bay Rays or New York Yankees, surrendering 2 runs in those final 1.2 innings he’d throw.

The laws of baseball don’t always work this way. It’s not a sport of give and take. Somehow, the Mets have managed to swipe away what could be a very important part of the bullpen for at least this season and maybe more. Add on the fact that he’s younger by two years, one can’t help but feel like balance has been restored.