NY Mets offseason grades for 3 major bullpen additions

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Just days after the 2022 World Series ended, the New York Mets made Edwin Diaz the highest paid relief pitcher in Major League history. As important a move as it was, it merely scratched the surface of work to be done on the bullpen.

With most other key contributors from 2022 hitting free agency, the Mets essentially had to rebuild their entire relief corps heading into the winter. But by the time the calendar turned to 2023, the front office had made three more significant moves towards fortifying it.

Let’s examine how each improves the team’s outlook for next season.

NY Mets sign David Robertson: Grade B+

Adding David Robertson might have come a few months later than it should have, as he was one of the best relievers available at the trade deadline prior to going to Philadelphia. Nonetheless, adding the veteran right-hander gives the Mets an established option at the back end of the bullpen heading into 2023.

The biggest risk that comes with Robertson is his age, as he will be 38 in April. While he is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro (2.40 ERA in 63 2/3 innings), he wasn’t as dominant with the Phillies as he was the first half of the year with the Chicago Cubs. He was, however, a key contributor for the Phillies in the postseason as they marched to within two wins of a World Series title, allowing just one run in 7 2/3 innings.

It is that kind of playoff pedigree, coupled with experience as both a setup man and closer, that otherwise makes this a great signing for the Mets. For his career, Robertson has now logged 41 postseason games, pitching to a 2.78 ERA. In the regular season, he has almost as many holds (152) as he does saves (157).

Robertson figures to slot right into the eighth inning role ahead of Diaz – although with other quality options alongside him (who we’ll get to in just a bit), the Mets have the flexibility to utilize him in a variety of different roles if needed.

NY Mets trade for Brooks Raley: Grade A-

Having an established, reliable left-hander reliever is something the Mets lacked all of 2022 and desperately needed to address this offseason. Adding Brooks Raley fills that void in a big way.

Acquired in a December trade with Tampa Bay, Raley had a breakout season at age 34 last year, with a 2.68 ERA across a career-high 53 2/3 innings. Most notably, he held left-handed hitters to a .155 batting average in 71 at-bats, although his numbers against righties (.208 batting average against) indicate he is more than just a lefty specialist.

What made Raley so effective was his ability to induce soft contact – per Baseball Savant, he ranked in the top ten percent of the league in lowest hard-hit rate, highest chase rate, and lowest barrel percentage. The recipe for success was his slider, which he threw 38 percent of the time – on average, it had 18.5 inches of break, 73 percent better than league average.

Raley’s pitching style is a nice complement the high-velocity attack that permeates the rest of the Mets pitching staff. It’s fair to wonder whether he will regress a bit next season, as he didn’t have much success prior to 2022. But the Mets took a chance on a Tampa Bay reliever coming off a career year just two years ago – and if Raley comes anywhere close to what Aaron Loup did for the Mets that year, this move will prove to be a steal.

NY Mets re-sign Adam Ottavino: Grade B+

One of the most important moves the Mets made this winter was bringing back their most reliable reliever from a year ago not named Edwin Diaz. By season’s end, Adam Ottavino was the unquestioned setup man for Diaz, pitching to a 2.06 ERA and producing a 2.3 bWAR – tremendous value for a relief pitcher.

Like Robertson, the biggest question will be whether Ottavino, who turned 37 in November, can continue pitching at or near the pace he set last year. It wasn’t long ago that Ottavino struggled in stints with the Yankees and Red Sox before returning to form in Queens.

Still, it’s a risk worth taking for the Mets – and amidst a career renaissance, makes perfect sense for the native New Yorker to run it back with a hometown team. Ottavino’s return to form was due in large part to the same approach his new teammate, Brooks Raley, employed – using his slider often (43%) and effectively (top five in hard-hit and barrel percentage).

It will be interesting to see how Buck Showalter deploys Ottavino next season, now that he has more options to bridge the innings between his starters and Diaz. Considering what the Mets bullpen looked like heading into the offseason, it’s a welcome problem to have.

Next. The Mets rightly overpaid for Justin Verlander. dark

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NY Mets sign David Robertson: Grade B+

NY Mets trade for Brooks Raley: Grade A-

NY Mets re-sign Adam Ottavino: Grade B+

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