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3 free agent starting pitchers the Mets can still sign for depth

By Scott Long |
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With Jacob deGrom going down with a shoulder injury, the New York Mets starting pitching will be put to the test. While they do have several arms that should be able to fill the void when injuries arise, the team is filled with injury-prone starting pitchers, so it wouldn't hurt to bring in more arms. After all, you can never have too much-starting pitching

In the meantime, pitchers such as Tylor Megill, David Peterson, and Trevor Williams will be expected to step up. Joey Lucchesi will join the bunch later in the year as well but he is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. In recent year's the Mtes have proven that no matter how much pitching depth they have, they always find a way to run through it. Thus, the team should look into the following three players who are still free agents.

NY Mets FA target number 1: Julio Teheran

One name the Mets absolutely must look into signing is Julio Teheran. The longtime Atlanta Brave is very familiar with the NL East, and has been a reliable arm ever since he came into the league. Teheran is coming off shoulder surgery, but he pitched in front of scouts and appeared to be healthy. Jon Heyman, of MLB Network, reported that his velocity has returned to form, which is a good sign that he is ready to return to big league action.

The 31-year old has been known as someone who fills up the strike zone, and finds a way to get outs despite not throwing hard, and staying around the zone. Unlike much of the rest of the staff, he would be a soft tosser, pitching to contact, which would serve as a nice compliment to a strikeout heavy rotation. His command would be an asset for the Mets, and with the improved defense on the roster, he would be a much better fit here than he would've in the past.

Add to that his experience in the division, and the fact that he can likely be had cheap, likely on a minor-league deal and it's easy to see why taking a flier on Teheran is a no-brainer. While it's unlikely he returns to his All-Star form, he has a 3.80 career ERA, and if he can pitch to that he will be a massive asset to a team who can use as much pitching depth as it can get.

Milwaukee Brewers v Los Angeles Dodgers
Milwaukee Brewers v Los Angeles Dodgers / Jonathan Moore/GettyImages


NY Mets FA target number 2: Brett Anderson

Unlike the other pitchers on this list, Brett Anderson was never viewed as more than a middle-of-the-rotation starter. However, there is nothing wrong with that, as the Mets don't need star power or a big name, rather they just need another arm who they can rely on when needed.

Anderson is entering his age-34 season and does not throw very hard, but that is a nice compliment to the Mets rotation. Last year in Milwaukee, Anderson threw 96 innings, registering a 4.22 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 24 starts, according to Baseball-Reference.

While Anderson will not jump out and dazzle Mets fans, he is the perfect definition of a depth starter. He has pitched in the league for 13 years, for six different teams, and his experience will be useful to the younger starters on the Mets. Additionally, he will be reliable and will be there to pitch when the Mets need him to. While he won't lock down opposing teams, the Mets will know what they are getting from him each time he steps on the mound, and that is what the team truly needs, consistency.

Milwaukee Brewers v St Louis Cardinals
Milwaukee Brewers v St Louis Cardinals / Dilip Vishwanat/GettyImages


NY Mets FA target number 3: J.A. Happ

Like Anderson, J.A. Happ provides the Mets rotation with something different, a left-handed starter. Currently, the only left-handed starter the Mets have is David Peterson, and after a rough season last year, and a tough spring, it's unsure if the team can truly rely on him.

Happ on the other hand will provide the Mets with a trustworthy lefty, who the team can turn to whenever they need him. Like Rich Hill last year, Happ is a veteran journeyman who has bounced around the league during his career. Even though he's 39-years old, Happ proved that he is still a capable starter after being traded to the Cardinals at the Trading deadline last year. According to Baseball Reference, he went 7-2 with a 4.00 ERA in the second half in St. Louis, and there's no reason to think he can contribute a stretch like that for the Mets as well.

Hill was a pitcher that I believed was a tough loss for the Mets, as he could've served as solid left-handed depth. Happ would be an ideal replacement, with a very similar style of pitching, as both are soft-tossing veteran left-handers. A soft-tosser from the left side would be a nice compliment to a right-handed dominant rotation, filled with strong arms.

While the Mets have been exploring the trade possibilities for potential pitching depth, it may make more sense to sign a veteran starter to a minor-league contract, or one-year contract, while not having to give anything away to get them. If the Mets go that route, these three veterans would be great options for the team to pursue.

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