The New York Mets bullpen has been brought up numerous times as a reason for the team’s struggles. Probably not the number one reason, but certainly one of the biggest. You can’t help but think this all started with a bad omen after Edwin Díaz’s injury during the World Baseball Classic. It was a sign of things to come, not just for the bullpen but for the Mets themselves. Either that or when the Carlos Correa deal fell through. Manager Buck Showalter has been scrambling to find some form of consistency from the bullpen. The only one is his current closer, David Robertson. New York and owner Steve Cohen will undoubtedly be active again in free agency. Let’s look at some options once the offseason kicks off-starting with Robertson himself.
Who Could Be The Mets Offseason Bullpen Options?
David Robertson
The Mets signed Robertson to a 0ne-year contract worth up to $10 million this past offseason primarily to be the setup man for their electric closer. However, Díaz’s injury threw a wrench into their plans. They were forcing Robertson to take over as New York’s closer. Robertson, of course, has previous closing experience, even in New York with the Yankees. The job was no stranger to him, and he’s been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise gloomy Mets year. Saving 14 games in 40 innings and a 2.05 ERA. The Mets traded him to the Miami Marlins for two prospects. However, it would be wise to bring him back into the fold next year and give New York the plan they wanted to see at the beginning of this season, with Robertson in the 8th inning setting up Díaz.
Josh Hader
Like Robertson, Josh Hader is playing very well for a disappointing San Diego Padres team. Hader is also in the middle of trade discussions as we approach the deadline. Hader has returned to his dominant self after struggling to begin his Padres run last year by having an 0.95 ERA and struck out 58 batters while saving 24 games. Those 24 saves are ties him for 7th in all of baseball. It’s been a long time since the Mets had a genuinely reliable lefty out of the bullpen. You can go back to Pedro Feliciano or John Franco. Adding Hader would give the back end of the Mets bullpen an incredible duo of Hader and Diaz-two guys who can blow any hitter away with unreal stuff.
Liam Hendriks
Liam Hendriks is the best and most inspiring story in baseball today as a person who beat cancer and returned triumphantly to the mound this year. He has made many people smile and is just a great human being. He does have a club option of $15 million with the Chicago White Sox in the offseason, and he makes $14 million. With Chicago in the position where they are as sellers at the deadline and possibly in the mix of a rebuild, they may trade him; or decline his option, and he hits the market. Hendriks has been one of the best relievers in the game since 2019. If he does become a free agent, he would be a good fit for the Mets in Queens.
Matt Moore
Back to the market of left-handed relievers, Matt Moore has been reliable for the Los Angeles Angels despite missing all of June with an oblique injury, notching 30 strikeouts in 31 innings and a 2.03 ERA. He has continued off a tremendous 2021 with the Texas Rangers. Over the last two seasons combined, Moore’s ERA stands at 1.97. Pretty impressive numbers pitching in a rugged AL West. The middle innings have been a struggle for the bullpen, and Moore could provide some productivity for the Mets in that department.
Craig Kimbrel
Even though Craig Kimbrel ERA isn’t overly impressive at 3.35, he was still 16-for-16 in save chances for the Philadelphia Phillies before blowing a game last Sunday. Overall, he’s been up and down since 2019, with his best showing of that stretch coming in the first half of 2021 as a Chicago Cub before being traded at that year’s deadline to the Southside of the Windy City, but he can still be a great option out of the bullpen. Every team would try to sign a talent like Kimbrel, and it should be no different for the Mets when free agency begins.
Main photo credits: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned: Edwin Díaz, David Robertson, Josh Hader, Liam Hendriks, Matt Moore, Craig Kimbrel
