4 former NY Mets players the team could reunite with to fill the bullpen

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There is no question the New York Mets could use some bullpen help. David Stearns has not only said as much, but his actions in the past with Milwaukee have demonstrated how much he values every spot on the 40-man roster. One route to fixing the bullpen would be to stack the 40-man roster with option-eligible relief pitchers to open flexibility for players who need rest. Another route is to sign relievers to multi-year contracts, which is a risk financially given the up-and-down nature of the bullpen.

The last route is to take flyers on players coming off ineffective seasons. To no surprise, there are plenty of former Mets on the free agent market who fit this bill. A one-year contract for a pitcher who has New York experience comes with no risk and much to gain; especially when Steve Cohen is the owner. As Sandy Alderson once said, "There is no such thing as a bad one-year contract". So which low-risk former Mets can help the bullpen in 2024?

1. Aaron Loup

Mets fans remember Aaron Loup as an automatic clean-inning machine; he pitched to just a 0.95 ERA in 56.2 innings in 2021. Think about that- Edwin Diaz wasn't even that good in 2022 and earned $102 million last year in free agency. However, Loup's brilliance with the Mets did not translate with Anaheim the past 2 seasons. He gave up 38 runs in 58 innings in 2022, then pitched to a 6.10 ERA in 48 innings last year. Long story short, we were all wrong to want Loup back after 2021.

After the Angels declined Loup's club option for 2024, he is now a free agent unlikely to receive more than a one-year contract. At age 36 next season, one could make the argument Loup will only receive a spring training invite. The Mets should absolutely reach out to Loup's camp and offer him a chance to make the roster. He never wanted to leave New York in the first place, and we have seen time and time again veteran relief pitchers bounce back after rough seasons. Just remember- Ottavino was mediocre with the Boston Red Sox but excelled for the Mets in 2022.

2. Collin McHugh

Younger Mets fans may not remember, but Collin McHugh was once a starting pitching prospect for the Mets in 2012. In short, McHugh was atrocious for the Mets in 2012 and was later traded to Colorado in 2013 for Eric Young Jr. While this trade seemed like a steal in 2013, EYJ would never replicate his breakout performance.

On the other end, McHugh would find his form while pitching in the elite Houston Astros analytical structure and turned his career around just like Cole, Morton, and Verlander did. He pitched to a 3.63 ERA across six seasons for Houston and continued to dominate for the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves between 2021 and 2022.

2023 was not so kind to McHugh, as he finished with a 4.30 ERA in 58 innings for the Braves. Heading into his age 37 season, McHugh will not warrant more than a one-year contract with a 2025 club option. Should this be the case, the Mets would be wise to make McHugh an offer. Without David Peterson for opening day, the Mets will be short on long-relief options who can make a spot start if needed. It was not long ago he was a dominant starter/reliever for Houston and Tampa Bay and has the ability to eat multiple innings a game such as Seth Lugo did in 2019.

3. Brad Hand

Brad Hand was destined to be a Met in 2021. He was posted on waivers by the then-Cleveland Indians just prior to the Mets' sale from the Wilpons to Cohen in November 2020. Many made the argument the Mets should just claim Hand given his bargain one-year $10 million dollar contract. Hand would clear waivers and eventually sign with Washington where he was a solid closer. He then was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline, where he struggled to a 7.27 ERA before being released. The Mets would then sign Hand in August, where he pitched well posting a 2.70 ERA in 13.2 innings pitched.

Hand would be a bargain spring training invite for the Mets in 2024. This is a former closer who saved 104 games with the San Diego Padres and Indians between 2016 and 2020. Though he struggled mightily for the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves last season, Hand did pitch to a 2.80 ERA in 2022, meaning he has become an up-and-down reliever since leaving Cleveland in 2020.

With the Mets bereft of left-handed relief pitchers, Hand would provide a valuable veteran presence with closing experience at little to no cost. Furthermore, the Mets cannot enter 2024 with just Brooks Raley as a reliable left-handed option. Just ask the 2015 and 2022 Mets the importance of having multiple lefties in the bullpen.

4. Thomas Szapucki

Thomas Szapucki spent about five minutes in an actual Mets uniform. Drafted by Alderson in 2015, Szapucki was a mid-tier starting pitching prospect and was eventually added to the 40-man roster in 2020. He debuted in 2021 against Atlanta and got absolutely blasted, giving up 6 runs in 3.2 innings. He would only pitch one more game for the Mets in 2022 before being dealt to San Francisco in the memorable Darin Ruf trade in July.

Szapucki would be another left-handed arm who will sign a minor league contract to prove his worth in 2024. Though he did not pitch in 2023 and is rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery, Szapucki did pitch to a 1.98 ERA in 13 innings for the Giants in 2022. He found his role in the bullpen on a good Giants pitching staff prior to his injury, meaning he will be a relief option once he is healthy. His contract could be similar to John Curtiss in 2022; give Szapucki a low-risk contract with the hope he can contribute once healthy.

Building a quality bullpen is becoming more important yet more difficult with each passing season. While starting pitchers and offensive threats earn the most accolades, bullpens can make or break a season. The 2019 Mets missed the playoffs because the bullpen was atrocious. Handing out multi-year contracts to relievers is just as big a risk. Remeber Anthony Swarzak? Familia's second Mets tenure? Trevor May in 2022? Antonio Bastardo? Frank Francisco?! Bottom line- the Mets should sign low-risk relievers for the bullpen and spend their resources on the starting rotation.

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