3 offseason decisions that make Billy Eppler look like a genius
This offseason was certainly one of major roster change and hard choices to make for Billy Eppler and the New York Mets.
The Mets had four fifths of their rotation, their top three relievers, and their dynamic leadoff hitter all hit free agency last winter, and the Mets retained half of them, while having to find external replacements for their 2023 roster.
But for some knack that Eppler received this winter, there were three moves that have paid dividends so far for the 2023 Mets.
Brandon Nimmo continues to get on base at a high clip for the Mets.
One of the priorities for the Mets was to bring back Brandon Nimmo, and that they did, on an 8-year, $162 million deal. Nimmo earned that money by improving every year defensively, and posting a .385 on-base percentage and an OPS+ of 130 in his first seven seasons in the majors. Health was a concern, though he played a career-high 151 games last season.
Nimmo has simply kept getting on base, putting pressure on the opposing pitcher. He has a .468 on-base percentage this year, aided by a major league leading 14 walks and a .289 batting average. And he drove in the game-winning run in yesterday's game in the 7th inning.
Nimmo is also taking advantage of the new rules when it comes to stealing bases. as we wanted him to do. He already has three stolen bases on the season, which is as many as he has had all of last season, and is one of the toughest hitters to strike out.
The lineup just feels stronger and longer when Nimmo's bat is at the top every day.
Mets reliever David Robertson has stepped well into a familiar role as a reliable late-inning guy.
The Mets had to build a bullpen from scratch as very few contracts from last year carried over to this year, and with the Mets letting Seth Lugo and Trevor May walk, one of their targets from the trade deadline last year was one they needed to sign in David Robertson in order to have a successful offseason. And that happened, and a reason Robertson was an answer was because he knew how to handle being the next man up, agreeing to a $10 million deal for a year.
When Mariano Rivera retired in 2013, someone had to replace the greatest closer in baseball history as the Yankees' closer. And it was David Robertson who was tasked to step in for Mo, and he did a great job at it, as he went 39 of 44 in save opportunities that year.
A similar situation unfolded last month when Edwin Diaz tore his petellar tendon when celebrating a win for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. And somebody needed to step up and be the full-time closer. The Mets supposedly said they were doing a closer-by-committee approach with Diaz out between Robertson (3 saves so far this season) and Adam Ottavino (one save).
But it seems like Robertson is getting most of the save chances, and has maximized on them. In seven outings so far, Robertson has thrown 7.1 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and no walks. Imagine what the Mets bullpen would have been like if the Mets didn't sign Robertson.
Adam Ottavino brought about much-needed depth in a depleted back end of the Mets' bullpen.
Adam Ottavino faced some legit doubters going to his Mets career last year. He came of a 2021 season that was marred with control issues, and signed a prove-it deal with the Mets last year. Many of those doubters were proven wrong.
He was sensational as the primary setup man for Edwin Diaz last year.He had a 2.06 ERA in 65.2 innings and struck out over 30 percent of the batters he faced. With Diaz as the primary reason the Mets went a full season going unbeaten when leading after eight innings, the Mets went 88-3 when leading after seven and a primary factor for that was Ottavino.
So the Mets needed to find a way to get him back, and they did, for $7.25 million this season with a player option for next year for the same price, and that contract will appear to be a bargain as well.
And so far, he's holding up. The only blemish against his ERA is a walk-off home run he conceded to Garrett Mitchell earlier this season in Milwaukee. Otherwise he's thrown six scoreless innings, and has found ways to get out of trouble, similar to what he did so often last year.
If the Mets are going to be anywhere near as successful as they were last year, it'll take a duplicate season (or something close to it) from the 37-year old veteran to get them through the eighth inning of close games.