After missing out on Brad Hand twice this offseason, the New York Mets signed Aaron Loup to a one year contract to help cement their bullpen. The Mets have a very right-handed heavy bullpen, and Loup will provide the Mets with a left-hander to go along with Edwin Diaz, Dellin Betances, Trevor May, and Jeurys Familia.
Loup pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays last year and pitched in 24 regular-season games during the regular season. He had a 2.24 ERA and then shined in the ALCS against the Houston Astros, but allowed a pair of runs in the World Series in four appearances.
In his career, Aaron Loup has a 3.38 ERA and has pitched mostly for the Toronto Blue Jays. Drafted in the ninth round in the 2009 MLB draft, Loup is 33-years old. Despite being mostly a left-handed specialist in his career, Loup has 15 career wins along with 60 holds and six career saves in his nine years in the MLB. Unlike many relief pitchers now, Loup does not throw hard and pitches from a low three-quarters slot. His best pitch has been his sinker, which has excellent movement and has a slider that he likes to use against left-handers.
Role With Mets
With the recently added rule regarding pitchers having to pitch to at least three hitters, manager Luis Rojas is going to have to pick his spots with his relievers. As of right now, he is one of the few southpaws in the Mets bullpen.
It would not be surprising to see the Mets still shop for another lefty. Justin Wilson, who has pitched for the Mets for the past two seasons, is still available. With the Loup signing, the Mets currently have four left-handed relievers on the 40-man roster. Daniel Zamora, Thomas Szapucki, and Stephen Tarpley join Loup with Jerry Blevins who signed a minor league deal earlier this year.
