Former Mets reliever signs with the Rangers, DH competition makes their choice
How two free agent signings on Thursday effect the quiet Mets.
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The New York Mets have been quiet this week, however, a couple happenings around MLB on Thursday will have a direct effect on them. A seemingly incomplete roster in Queens, the Mets saw two players related to their greatest needs find new homes.
David Robertson won’t be coming back to the Mets
Fans hoping David Robertson could be their Aroldis Chapman (trade him at the deadline and come back) were disappointed to see the veteran hurler go to the Texas Rangers.
Right-handed reliever David Robertson and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a one-year contract in the $11-12 million range, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. The World Series champs bulk up their bullpen with the veteran closer who has 175 career saves.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 26, 2024
He’ll make a little more than the $10 million he took home from the Mets last season. Despite a poor performance with the Miami Marlins, the Rangers viewed him favorably enough in their attempt to repeat. A weak bullpen was one of the potential hazards on their road to a championship in 2023. Will they get the Mets version of Robertson or the Marlins one?
The fabled $10 million the Mets have left to spend, if true, puts them just out of reach for this deal. While we’d all like to think they’re in the market for both a righty and lefty reliever, the fact seems to be that if they want any quality they’re going to need to pay upwards of $8 million. Matt Moore just got $9 million from the Los Angeles Angels after all.
The Mets still have options with Ryne Stanek being the most frequently mentioned name. However, they’re hardly the only ones looking into him.
Cubs, Red Sox Have Shown Reported Interest In Ryne Stanek https://t.co/jizVKGijZL pic.twitter.com/ioE2fKK2G1
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) January 26, 2024
The Diamondbacks signed one of the DH targets we didn’t want
It was an active day for the World Series teams. The National League representatives, the Arizona Diamondbacks, added Joc Pederson on a one-year deal.
Joc Pederson’s one-year contract with a mutual option with the Arizona Diamondbacks is guaranteed for $9.5 million.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 26, 2024
Pederson was viewed by many as one of the lesser DH choices around the league in the company of Justin Turner, Jorge Soler, and J.D. Martinez. Best-suited for a platoon situation at this stage of his career, he was never a realistic option for the Mets so there isn’t any outrage. In fact, this can be spun positively.
Teams known to still be on the prowl for a DH include the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays as well as others in the same situation as the Mets where they currently have options and yet they may not be so inclined to pay big dollars to anyone else. Pederson to Arizona still works well for the Mets should they decide to actually sign a bat. There are only so many teams that will have a roster spot open for those veteran hitters. The lack of rumors around Turner in particular should have us wondering if there will be a drop in asking price.
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