The New York Mets have done a remarkable job of improving their biggest weakness from a year ago, their bullpen. All throughout 2022, the relief pitching was a complete liability.
This offseason, Steve Cohen and Billy Eppler have fully committed the resources available to change that.
It started right after the World Series, with the huge deal given to star closer, Edwin Diaz. The Mets also kept their second-best bullpen arm from a year ago, Adam Ottavino.
Beyond just retaining their best two from last season, the Mets added a quality right-handed and left-handed arm with David Robertson and Brooks Raley.
As a result, with Diaz, Ottavino, Robertson, and Raley, the Mets have a very strong bullpen with their top four. To complete this unit, though, potentially, one more left-handed arm could be added to complement Raley.
Reports have indicated, as recently as the initial news a week and a half ago when the Mets verbally agreed to a deal with Carlos Correa, that the Mets were still looking for more bullpen help. Let’s take a look at two particular left-handers still on the market who would complete the Mets’ offseason overhaul.
Free agent left-handed relievers the Mets could sign:
Andrew Chafin:
It is somewhat shocking that Andrew Chafin is still on the free agent market. The 32-year-old is coming off a year in which he posted a 2.83 ERA. That follows a career year in 2021 in which he had a ridiculous 1.83 ERA.
Chafin has nine years of MLB experience and a solid 3.23 ERA recorded over his career. He is still in his prime years from an age standpoint and would make for an incredible signing at this point in the free agency process for the Mets.
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Brad Hand:
Brad Hand spent a month with the Mets in 2021, finishing with a good 2.70 earned run average. The three-time All-Star put together one stout season in 2022. In 55 games, he had a 3-2 record and a 2.80 ERA over 45 innings pitched.
Hand turns 33 right before the start of next season. He has 12 years of experience under his belt, with a respectable 3.62 ERA throughout his MLB run. Hand is another quality left-handed arm still available who would complete the revamping of the bullpen executed by the Mets this offseason.