3 NY Mets free agent targets to replace Adam Ottavino in the bullpen

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Adam Ottavino decided to opt out of his deal with the New York Mets after an attempt at restructuring the deal. He had a far more inconsistent season in 2023 for the team with some favorable overall numbers. Thrust into a bigger role due to the injury suffered by Edwin Diaz, Ottavino had some very good and some very bad days on the mound.

It does seem that if the Mets weren’t willing to restructure his deal that a reunion is unlikely. This leaves the Mets with a bullpen situation you wouldn’t wish about your worst enemy; well, maybe the Atlanta Braves.

How can the Mets go about replacing Ottavino? We’re looking for a high-leverage and late inning arm. Any of these three could be suitable options for the Mets.

1) Reynaldo Lopez

Reynaldo Lopez might be the best relief pitcher available on the market this offseason who isn’t expected to get a closer job. He falls behind only Josh Hader on most people’s lists. Coming off a crazy year which saw him play for three teams, Lopez managed to finish with a 3.27 ERA on the year while getting better at each stop.

For Lopez, it’s important to skip past his career numbers and look strictly at what he has done in the bullpen. He failed as a starter for the Chicago White Sox and managed to turn into a very good bullpen asset. He’s 14-12 with a 3.01 ERA in 164.1 career innings in relief.

Age suits Lopez well in this year’s free agent class as he won’t turn 30 until January. A three or possibly even four-year contract could be something he demands. Those lengthier deals for non-closer relief pitchers can be tough to bite. I can’t look at a three-year deal for a middle reliever or setup man without thinking of Jeurys Familia’s return to the Mets in 2019.

Is a four-year deal too much for him? The Mets should tread lightly. They don’t want to get stuck with his best years happening before the rest of the team is truly ready to win.

2) Hector Neris

We got to know Hector Neris really well during his first eight big league seasons as a member of the rival Philadelphia Phillies. He eventually worked his way into becoming a closer for them during some leaner years in the City of Brotherly Love. Neris finally left Philadelphia for the Houston Astros after the 2021 season. He was okay in his setup role in 2022 and cranked things up to a whole new level in 2023.

Neris was 6-3 with a 1.71 ERA in 68.1 innings out of the Astros bullpen. Despite the dangerous 4.1 walks per 9 which was atypical for him, Neris seemed to find balance by allowing a career-low 5.4 hits per 9. He excelled where it matters most, run prevention.

Oddly, Neris had a better WHIP the year prior when he had a 3.72 ERA for the Astros. The 1.01 WHIP in 2022 did little good at keeping runners from scoring. He gave up about half as many runs this past year while seeing some numbers go up to suggest he wasn’t so terrific after all.

Let’s call our expectations for Neris in 2024 a little more even. In two years with Houston, he was 12-7 with a 2.69 ERA.

Neris may fit more in the vein of replacing Ottavino due to his age. He’ll be 35 next season and a two-year pact is something he’d more reasonably accept. He almost seems too perfect of a replacement.

3) Nick Martinez

We can throw darts at the free agent board looking for an Ottavino replacement all afternoon. The easiest solution is to get the best relief pitcher possible. That’s why Nick Martinez should be an option for the Mets.

Martinez is a unique ballplayer who spent a couple of years overseas before returning to MLB in 2022 with the San Diego Padres. Over the past two seasons he has pitched as a starter and reliever. The results are a 10-8 record and 3.45 ERA.

Martinez may be a bit spiteful toward the Padres right now who turned down his $16 million option for 2024. Understandably so, their financial troubles and the fact that Martinez was utilized mostly as a relief pitcher last season made it an easy call for them. He’d be an expensive relief pitcher addition for the Mets. At 33, the contract length is a bit tougher to predict.

One hiccup in potentially making him a main target is Martinez may pitch himself as a possible starter much like Seth Lugo did. The Padres inked Lugo to a deal fit for a backend starting pitcher and he thrived in the role.

Martinez made only 19 starts over the last two seasons with the other 91 of his appearances coming into the game as a reliever. Maybe he’s not as much of a replacement for Ottavino as he would be a delayed replacement for Trevor Williams or even his ex-Padres teammate, Lugo.

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