Andrew Heaney is an unappealing free agent target

MLB free agency is already underway and New York Mets rumors are making the rounds. Included in the latest dose of Mets rumors is their interest in free agent pitcher Andrew Heaney. Surprised? You’re not alone.

Mets fans probably remember Heaney best for his weak performance with the New York Yankees in 2021. After being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels, Heaney was 2-2 with a 7.32 ERA across 35.2 innings. This came as both a starter and reliever.

Heaney did manage to rebound in a big way in 2022. With the Los Angeles Dodgers, the lefty was 4-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 72.2 innings of work. It’s not bad. It’s not nearly enough.

Mets rumors linking them to Andrew Heaney are unexciting

A 31-year-old lefty starter with only one season of 130+ innings pitched shouldn’t thrill Mets fans. This is a guy who has a career 4.56 ERA who just happens to be coming off of a career-year.

And in that career-year, Heaney missed more than half the season. He was good. He wasn’t good enough.

The Mets are in the market to add around two or three starting pitchers this winter. Max Scherzer will be back. So will Carlos Carrasco. They can’t conceivably re-sign Jacob deGrom and then added both Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodon. They probably won’t even be able to retain deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker. Their interest in Heaney still comes off as somewhat disappointing considering how unproven he is over a long stretch.

Heaney seems to be one of those free agents general managers will look at as a late-bloomer candidate. He has had this reputation for many years. The execution has just never come about during a full year.

Disinterest in Heaney has little to do with the money the Mets might spend on him. It’s the better options out there. It’s the roster space he’d take up.

The offseason is the one chance where the Mets have the most control with upgrading the roster. Settling with Heaney, a guy they might like but doesn’t have the results, would be an unappealing mistake.