3 under the radar Mets relief pitcher options in free agency still available
The offseason progresses, and the New York Mets are in the market for relief pitchers. The organization has been linked to various targets in recent weeks, in their search of short-term contracts that fit its current plan.
This season Mets bullpen will feature the return of Edwin Diaz as the team's closer in a bullpen that is complemented by Brooks Raley, Drew Smith, and Jorge Lopez, among others. Although the team has not been in the top pitching market, several under-the-radar pitching options could fit the team's plan in terms of financial commitment and contract types.
1) Alex Reyes
Alex Reyes' career has been overshadowed by various injuries that have prevented the pitcher from being consistently on the field. However, the former top prospect has been a dominant pitcher when healthy, which makes him an intriguing option this offseason.
Reyes, 29, has just signed a contract with the Dodgers where he could not see action due to having undergone another shoulder surgery, his second in two years. This would cause Reyes to have to look for a less guaranteed minor league or incentive contract to reestablish his value in the market.
Regardless, Reyes' potential is incredible. Despite various injuries, his fastball remains elite in the league, and his extensive pitching arsenal makes him an advantageous five-pitch reliever.
During his last season of action, in 2021, Reyes managed to strike out 95 batters in 75.1 innings pitched, where he had 29 saves. Likewise, the metrics show that, during his last seasons, his xBA remained below .200 and his xSLG around .315.
The Mets could sign Reyes to a minor league contract or a guaranteed MLB contract with multiple performance incentives. In an ideal scenario, the Mets would get an elite production from this young pitcher, who would become a key piece for the team's bullpen.
2) Jose Cisnero
Having reliable options in the bullpen that guarantee innings is a fundamental aspect of maintaining a fresh and rested bullpen during a season as long as baseball. The relevance of a bullpen has gained more weight in the current game model, where starting pitchers do not pitch games of many innings.
The experience of pitchers like Jose Cisnero can be useful in the Mets' middle bullpen in 2024. Cisnero ended the 2023 season on the downside after a good first half for the Detroit Tigers.
Despite closing the year with a 5.31 ERA, during the first half of last season, Cisnero posted a 3.44 ERA, with 36 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched. Likewise, his splits show that he managed to dominate left-handed and right-handed hitters, disabling left-handed contact mainly with his slider.
Despite finishing with a high ERA, his advanced and expected metrics show that his xERA stood at 4.64 for the year. This is due to greater use of his slider which generated a swing and misses greater than 33%.
Cisnero could be an important weapon in a Mets bullpen loaded with inexperience and youth. In a one-year, low-value contract, the Mets can count on the experience and innings that a pitcher of this type can provide in 2024.
3) Jimmy Nelson
During his first years with the Milwaukee Brewers, Jimmy Nelson was characterized as a pitcher with control and command of his pitches. During his first five seasons, Nelson more than once led the league in walks and hits by pitch among eligible pitchers.
Even during his 2017 campaign, his numbers earned him votes for the National League Cy Young Award, finishing in ninth position. Unfortunately, at this point, his injuries began to take their toll, and he was unable to stay healthy on the field.
Despite this, due to his potential and arsenal, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Nelson several times on one-year contracts in search of getting the most out of this pitcher. Only in 2021, the only year in which he saw action with the Dodgers, he was able to pitch just 29 innings, where he finished with an ERA of 1.89.
Nelson lost part of 2021 and all of 2022 due to his Tommy John surgery and had control problems upon his return to the minors in 2023. 2024 could represent a year in which this pitcher can show a considerable level of health and be able to give decent innings of good performance to the Mets.
It needs to be remembered that pitchers returning from Tommy John tend to have a considerable adjustment period. Nelson on a minor league contract could be a contributing piece to the team throughout 2024 in the bullpen.