Mets sign free agent who can’t catch a break and stick in the majors

Any free agent signings the New York Mets might make these days aren’t the kind of moves that’ll have a major payoff. At least, that’s the expectation. Who knows what Jose Iglesias is lurking around to change the culture of the ball club next?

On Saturday, the Mets reunited with Vinny Nittoli. The 33-year-old was recently released by the Baltimore Orioles. They were the second team he pitched for this year and despite tossing 4 shutout innings in relief in two separate appearances, Nittoli fell out of the team’s plans. As the Orioles added more seasoned veterans to their bullpen at the trade deadline, Nittoli became a roster casualty. He understandably refused his minor league assignment after clearing waivers and ended up returning to the Mets where he spent a part of last season.

We saw just 3.2 innings from Nittoli last season. A single run allowed, Nittoli continued a trend of not allowing runs in the majors but not doing it without the spectacular upside of fellow relievers who do so with frightening strikeout numbers.

Vinny Nittoli is back with the Mets in what has been a productive year

A 1.50 ERA in 12 total innings with the Orioles and Oakland Athletics is certainly eye-catching. In fact, if we include his past numbers with the Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Seattle Mariners, he has now managed a 2.41 ERA in 18.2 innings of work. All have come after the age of 30.

Interestingly, Nittoli hasn’t been nearly as good in Triple-A. A 4.70 ERA in 180 lifetime innings has overshadowed the 11.1 strikeouts per 9. Meanwhile, in those limited major league appearances, it’s at only 6.3 per 9.

Combined with the Triple-A squads for Baltimore and Oakland, Nittoli has been better in 2024. A 2.73 ERA in 26.1 innings along with a 13.7 strikeouts per 9 rate was apparently too tempting for the Mets to pass up on if, for nothing else, a little bit of minor league pitching depth.

Perhaps it was his experience last year with Syracuse that had him happy to return to the Mets organization. The Mets have happily invited many minor league signings up to the majors this season with Danny Young being one of the most impactful in the bullpen right now.

If the Mets have interest in keeping him around, they might need to decide before August 29 as he reportedly has an opt-out in his contract.