Mets have interest in a potential Aaron Loup replacement

While New York Mets rumors have been pretty light to begin the offseason, Mike Puma of the New York Post is reporting that the Mets are interested in Minnesota Twins left-hander Taylor Rogers.

The Mets have a pretty big hole to fill with Aaron Loup headed to Los Angeles. Loup was the best member of a really solid bullpen and will surely be missed. However, I do think the contract he got was a bit large and that the Mets were in the right to not top it.

As Puma notes, Rogers is entering his last year of arbitration and will be due to get a raise from the $6 million dollars he got last season. With the Twins in rebuilding mode, they might want to save money.

While this Mets rumor might seem boring, Rogers would be a great get for the Mets.

With the Twins in rebuild mode, the Mets have a chance to acquire a really solid and underrated reliever for very cheap. They could acquire Rogers on his own, or maybe in a package with someone like Byron Buxton or Jorge Polanco.

Rogers went 2-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 40 appearances for the Twins this season. He struck out an absurd 13.2 batters per nine while walking just 1.8/9. He strikes out a ton, walks few, and only allowed 0.9 HR/9.

Rogers was an all-star for the first time in 2021 and deservingly so. However, he's been good for awhile. In 2018 he posted a 2.63 ERA in 72 appearances. In 2019 he had a 2.61 ERA in 60 appearances, and served as the Twins closer with 30 saves.

In Rogers' down year in 2020, he put up a 4.05 ERA in 20 innings. However, he still struck out 10.8/9 and walked just 1.8/9. All the stats show Rogers is a really solid reliever who the Mets would be fortunate to add.

Rogers would not be acquired to be the closer, he'd be the primary left-hander out of what should be a really solid bullpen with guys like Edwin Diaz, Seth Lugo, and Trevor May working in the back end of the bullpen alongside Rogers.

While Rogers has been really solid in his career against both hands, he's even better against lefties, which makes sense. In 2021, he held left-handed hitters to a .170/.185/.340 slash line. He struck out 29 and only walked one left hander all year in 55 plate appearances against him.

Aaron Loup had a career year and I'm sure will do great things in Anaheim. However, Rogers is not a bad consolation prize at all, and with his large sample size of success, I wouldn't be surprised if he's better than Loup is this coming season. This Met rumor might not be super exciting, Rogers is a great add.