11-year MLB veteran and one-time Cy Young winner Rick Porcello signed a one year contract worth 10 million dollars with the New York Mets. Porcello spent the past five seasons pitching for the Boston Red Sox but initially joined the majors as a product of the Detroit Tigers’ farm system.
Rick Porcello Signs With Mets
Porcello spent the 2019 season with the reigning World Series champion Boston Red Sox. Porcello’s season, much like that of the 2019 Red Sox, was one of major disappointment. The right-handed starter took the mound for 174.1 innings, ending the year with an ugly 5.52 ERA and a 14-12 record. The advanced number doesn’t paint a prettier picture, as Porcello’s 4.76 FIP and 5.14 xFIP were among the worst in the league.
2019 was, by far, Porcello’s worst season in a Red Sox uniform. Back in 2018, Porcello served as a valuable mid-rotation arm for Boston’s 108-win World Series roster. During that campaign, Porcello pitched 191.1 innings to the tune of a 4.28 ERA, 4.01 FIP, 3.87 xFIP, and a 2.4 fWAR.
Porcello’s best season came in 2016 when he won the American League Cy Young award. During that magical campaign, Porcello took the mound for 223.0 innings and recorded a 3.15 ERA and a 3.40 FIP, all career-bests. He struck out 7.63 batters per nine innings while also a career-low 1.29 while owning a 22-4 record.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Rick Porcello is his durability and reliability. Porcello has made at least 27 starts in each of his full major league seasons and has eclipsed the 30-start mark on eight separate occasions.
Throughout his major league career, Porcello has pitched 2,037.1 innings to the tune of a 4.36 ERA, 4.09 FIP, and a 27.9 fWAR. Assuming he can bounce back from his disastrous 2019, Porcello should serve as a solid middle to late arm in a playoff-caliber rotation.
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