4 free agent relievers the Mets could reunite with

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.