2024 Mets outlook: Middle reliever expectations and predictions

Jorge Lopez will look to regain his All-Star form, but one pitch in his arsenal will determine how successful he is.

Jorge Lopez continued the trend of low-risk, high-reward signings of high velocity arms by the Mets this offseason. Lopez spent last year with three different teams after being an All-Star the year before., struggling his way to a 5.95 ERA in 59.1 innings pitched last season between the Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins, and Baltimore Orioles.

Lopez's sinker will determine how successful he is this season. In 2022, his All-Star year, his sinker velocity averaged 97.7. Last year, that velocity averaged 96.8 mph on the radar gun, and it proved to be less effective as hitters crushed him hard on it. If trends continue, this signing will be a whiff for David Stearns

2024 stat predictions: 4.86 ERA, 50 IP, 45 K, 1.40 WHIP

Sean Reid-Foley is in a good place to reset his career after Tommy John surgery.

Sean Reid-Foley spent most of the last two years recovering from May 2022 Tommy John surgery, though he came back in August so the Mets could see what they could get out of him for this year. The results were rather strong, as seven of his eight outings were one scorless inning each, he struck out 47.1 perent of his batters, and his fastball velocity reached 96.1 mph.

Currently, he is the leader to grab the Mets' long relief job according to Roster Resource, thanks to a good start to his spring, as he turned in a scoreless frame in each of his first three outings in the spring. But, this is only a small sample size, as was his performance in 2023. But there is reasons to be encouraged.

2024 stat predictions: 3.96 ERA, 50 IP, 55 K, 1.20 WHIP