Mets Director of Baseball Operations David Stearns addressed the team's lineup (see: Juan Soto) and starting rotation (see: Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, Frankie Montas) this offseason.
To date, the bullpen remains untouched beyond a collection of largely unproven arms who have signed contracts or claimed waivers.
Known players include Edwin Diaz, Reid Garrett, Sean Reid-Foley, and Jose Butt (if he does not return to the starting lineup). DeDoniel Nuñez also pitched at a high level until he was sidelined with an elbow injury at the end of the season. Left-hander Danny Young had brief success, but faltered late in the season. Huascar Brazoban is also a wild card.
In short, there is room for more talent.
The market is still full of proven emollients. The key, of course, is trying to decipher which stocks are rising and which are falling in typically volatile sectors.
Let's take a look at some of the famous names still available:
Tanner Scott: The left-handed pitcher is the best reliever available in free agency and will require a significant financial commitment. There's a lot to like about Scott, who had the lowest average exit velocity in MLB (84.3 mph) last season as a pitcher for the Marlins and Padres. The left-right combo between Diaz and Scott in the final stages will be scary for opponents.
Jeff Hoffman: After a mostly mediocre career, the right-handed pitcher enjoyed success the past two seasons with the Phillies. Has Hoffman reached his peak or does he have more in the tank? Last season, his pursuit rate, strikeout rate, and strikeout rate were all in elite territory, and his wipeout slider was his weapon. .
David Robertson: The ageless wonder returned last season after an ugly two-month stint with the Marlins in 2023 after the Mets traded him.
Robertson, who turns 40 in April, pitched in 60 games for the Rangers last season and posted a 3.00 ERA.
The right-hander, who enjoyed success in New York with both the Yankees and Mets, has an appealing crossover ability that allows him to play both right-handed and left-handed batters.
Kenley Jansen: The right-handed pitcher has a chance to reach 500 saves in total if he plays as a closer for the next two seasons and performs at a reasonable level. Is the 37-year-old going to sacrifice a shot to reach that plateau, perhaps by throwing in a setup role for the Mets?
Jansen isn't the overwhelming force he was with the Dodgers, but he can still bring it. He posted a 3.29 ERA and 27 saves for the Red Sox last season.
Kirby Yates: He had a career season last year at age 37. The right-hander posted a 1.17 ERA and 33 saves in 61 games for the Rangers, finishing eighth in American League Cy Young Award voting.
Yates' 35.9 percent strikeout rate ranks in the 98th percentile in MLB, but his 11.8 percent walk rate is among the worst.
Chris Martin: The veteran right-hander was dropped last year after back-to-back strong seasons with the Dodgers and Red Sox, but he still pitched in 45 games and posted a decent 3.45 ERA.
Martin's success lies in limiting his walks and frustrating opponents with his cutter.
Craig Kimbrel: Was last season an anomaly, or was his nine-time All-Star appearance finally over? Kimbrel played in 57 games for the Orioles, posting a 5.33 ERA. Rough outings in four of his five starts to end the season contributed to the ugliness of the 36-year-old Kimbrel's overall numbers.
What's still intriguing, though, is his ability to make batters swing and whiff. Kimbrel's whiff rate of 30.9 percent ranked in the 85th percentile in MLB.
Paul Swald: After three consecutive strong seasons, the former Mets relief pitcher disappointed last year with a 4.31 ERA in 42 games with the Diamondbacks. The 35-year-old Sewald's four-seam fastball velocity has dropped from 92.2 mph to 91.4 mph.
Brooks Lally: The left-hander underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in May and will be sidelined for at least half the season. However, Reilly has been effective during his time with the Mets and could be worth retaining with an eye toward the stretch run.
Tommy Kahnle: The Mets haven't been shy about signing players from the Yankees, and the right-hander certainly fits that mold.
Last season, Kahnle appeared in 50 games for the Yankees and posted a 2.11 ERA. Kahnle has thrived by using his changeup to induce weak contact.
