Signing Zack Britton wouldn't make much sense for the Mets

The New York Mets were one of six teams at Zack Britton's throwing session in Florida. Britton not too long ago was a dominant reliever for the Orioles and Yankees but has pitched poorly and missed substantial time with injury in each of the last two seasons.

NY Mets being interested in Zack Britton doesn't make much sense

Another lefty in this Mets bullpen would be nice. They acquired Brooks Raley in a trade with the Rays to help bring in an established southpaw for the 'pen. Raley had a really good 2022 and can hopefully be just as good for the Mets.

Raley joins Edwin Diaz, Adam Ottavino, David Robertson, and Drew Smith as locks for the Mets bullpen. While I believe another established arm would help make this Mets bullpen great instead of good, the Mets passed up on a really good one for cheap.

Andrew Chafin, a guy I've been clamoring for the Mets to sign or acquire in a trade for years, signed a one-year $6.25 million dollar deal. The contract includes a club option for the 2024 season as well.

Chafin has been one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball for each of the last two seasons and he signed for less than David Robertson who made just 19 appearances since 2018 prior to the 2022 season. The Robertson deal isn't bad, but Chafin is better and cheaper.

Britton came back from Tommy John too soon and was shut down after making just three appearances for the Yankees last season. He had a 5.89 ERA the season prior with the Yankees before undergoing the surgery.

Another reason this signing would make very little sense is the Mets' reasoning for not signing Chafin was the fact that they wanted that spot to be used for optional relievers. I don't agree with that decision, but Britton doesn't have options either. So they'd be signing an oft-injured reliever who has struggled in recent memory instead of a durable reliever who's been elite in the last two seasons?

I understand Britton's relationship with Buck Showalter and the other things he can do for the locker room, but unless Chafin is this awful guy I don't see choosing Britton over him making much sense.

The Mets went on with wanting optionable relievers for this long, I don't see why they'd change their line of thinking for Zack Britton. If Britton would take a minor league deal that's different, but I don't see that as very likely at all.