3 players that are already offseason non-tender candidates
The New York Mets are going to have another very eventful offseason with several players scheduled to hit free agency. Guys like Jacob deGrom and Edwin Diaz are no-brainers to return in my eyes.
It's also interesting because several key players including Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil will be entering their second arbitration year. This means they are one year closer to free agency, so the Mets should really start talking about an extension with at least one of those players.
While most players eligible for arbitration will receive a contract, there are three players who I don't think will be tendered a contract for the 2023 season.
1) NY Mets offseason non-tender candidate: Sean Reid-Foley
Sean Reid-Foley looked like he might be a solid piece in the Mets bullpen at one point. He was acquired in the Steven Matz trade prior to the 2021 campaign and looked good, allowing four earned runs in his first 15.2 innings pitched.
Reid-Foley was honestly solid for the most part outside of two outings where he allowed 10 runs (eight earned) in just two innings combined. This caused his season ERA to balloon to 5.23 when he really pitched better than that number shows.
Unfortunately, Reid-Foley dealt with right elbow inflammation and did not appear in another major league game after June 30th.
The right hander bounced back and made the Opening Day roster this season for the Mets. He wasn't very effective out of the bullpen but the fact that he was out of options saved him from being sent down.
At the end of April, Reid-Foley was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL and underwent Tommy John Surgery. This knocked him out for this season and he will almost certainly miss part of or all of next season.
With that in mind, Reid-Foley enters his second arbitration year. He does have some promise but with the Mets intending to compete, I don't think a healthy Reid-Foley should be on the team. Reid-Foley off of Tommy John surgery seems like a prime non-tender candidate.
2) NY Mets offseason non-tender candidate: Joey Lucchesi
In the 2021 offseason, the Mets acquired Joey Lucchesi from the Padres to round out their rotation. They sent catching prospect Endy Rodriguez (who is now a top 100 prospect) to Pittsburgh in the trade that sent Joe Musgrove to San Diego.
The Mets got the worst part of the deal. Lucchesi is fun to watch because of his awkward motion and his "churve" but he wasn't great in his first season as a Met.
The southpaw went five innings just twice out of his eight starts, and they just so happened to be his final two starts prior to tearing his UCL in his left shoulder. This shut him down for the season and he has not appeared in a game since after needing Tommy John Surgery.
Lucchesi has been working his way back and might find his way onto the roster at the end of this season as a reliever, but a postseason spot seems highly unlikely.
Lucchesi will be entering his second arbitration year this coming offseason. Starting pitching depth is very important as we've learned this season. I don't know where the Mets would be if they didn't have guys like David Peterson and Trevor Williams ready to step into the rotation after the injuries to their rotation.
I can see the Mets keeping that in mind and tendering the southpaw a contract, but I also wouldn't be surprised if they let him go. They can find cheaper depth that might even be better than Lucchesi.
3) NY Mets offseason non-tender candidate: Joely Rodriguez
In a stunning trade right before Opening Day, the Mets sent one of their better relievers in Miguel Castro to the Yankees in exchange for Joely Rodriguez.
The Mets never addressed the lefty reliever spot after letting Aaron Loup walked and acquired Rodriguez to fill that role.
I never liked this trade from the jump, as Castro had the better season in 2021 and the better track record. The Mets focused too much on the handedness, not the numbers.
It turns out that Castro did not have his best year and missed substantial time due to injury. Rodriguez has been even worse, but at least he's stayed healthy.
Similar to Castro, Rodriguez has had a hard time throwing strikes. His 5.6 BB/9 is by far a career worst and has ruined his season. Rodriguez has done a great job limiting hard contact as he ranks in the 99th percentile in average exit velocity according to baseball savant. He's given up just three home runs in 41.2 innings pitched, but the walks are a huge reason why he has a 5.18 ERA this season.
Rodriguez is on the bubble for the postseason roster only because he throws left handed. He cannot be trusted in high leverage spots and if it were up to me, he wouldn't even make the postseason roster.
I believe the Mets missed out on Andrew Chafin in free agency and at the trade deadline. Rodriguez is entering his first arbitration year and has not had a good year so he will be cheap, making it possible the Mets hold onto him.
The Mets also have virtually their entire bullpen other than Drew Smith entering free agency this offseason, making it easy to hold onto Rodriguez with all of the turnover that will take place.
The Mets need to upgrade their left handed reliever spot and if they can't trade him, they should non-tender the 30 year old.