10 best Mets free agent targets to pursue this offseason

The New York Mets are going to have a very active offseason after their disappointing exit in the Wild Card round at the hands of a Padres team who won 12 fewer games in the regular season.

Virtually the entire starting rotation outside of Max Scherzer is hitting free agency. Virtually the entire bullpen was scheduled to hit free agency before the Mets signed Edwin Diaz to a record-breaking five-year deal. Outside of Drew Smith and Diaz, the Mets bullpen is wide open.

Brandon Nimmo, the Mets leadoff hitter and elite center fielder is a free agent. They'll have to re-sign or replace him while also upgrading the offense. Billy Eppler has his work cut out for him to try and make this team a World Series contender in 2023.

10) NY Mets free agent targets to pursue: Andrew Chafin

Once Aaron Loup signed with the Angels, the need for the Mets to sign a left handed reliever was clear. In the offseason I assumed Billy Eppler would do this but he opted to trade for Joely Rodriguez and sign Chasen Shreve.

Shreve struggled mightily and was DFA'd in early July. Rodriguez also struggled but somehow managed to stay on the roster all year. Eppler never signed or traded for a left handed reliever.

Andrew Chafin was available for the Mets to sign in free agency. The Tigers ended up signing the southpaw on a relatively cheap two-year $13 million dollar deal. He was available at the deadline as well, but the Mets didn't pull the trigger.

The second year of that deal was a player option, and Chafin just declined it. Now that he's a free agent once again, the Mets should sign him.

Chafin posted a 2.83 ERA in 64 appearances for the Tigers this past season. He held lefties to a .233/.320/.344 slashline with just two home runs allowed in 105 plate appearances.

What makes Chafin so appealing is he was even better against righties. Right handed hitters had an OPS of .585 against Chafin in 2022, nearly 100 points lower than lefties. Chafin is not affected at all by the three batter rule.

Chafin has been good for each of the past two seasons. The Mets should have signed him last offseason but have a chance to ink the 32 year old to a deal this offseason.