The New York Mets want to build a super bullpen that can help them protect leads late in games. Last season, the unit was fairly mediocre and didn’t even have Seth Lugo, its most consistent man, for a huge chunk of the season because he was needed as a starter.
During the offseason, the Mets signed Trevor May and Aaron Loup, and added some upside in Jacob Barnes, Sam McWilliams, Mike Montgomery, Tommy Hunter, and others. Yet, they recently lost Lugo to an elbow injury that will require surgery, thus creating the need of bringing another top reliever to spell him.
Trevor Rosenthal is still available as a free agent, and according to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets have “stayed in touch” with the high-octane right-handed relief pitcher.
NBC Sports Edge explains that Rosenthal “makes for a great fit on just about every team in baseball after working to a 1.90 ERA, 0.845 WHIP, and 38/8 K/BB ratio in 23 2/3 innings last season between the Royals and Padres while racking up 11 saves.”
A worthwhile move for the Mets
If the New York Mets secure his services, the 30-year-old would presumably serve as a setup option and fallback closer in Queens should anything happen to Edwin Diaz.
Rosenthal had Tommy John surgery in 2017 and had to miss the whole 2018 campaign. When he returned in 2019, his control was way off (15.26 walks per nine innings.) However, he was able to right the ship in 2020.
For his career, the former Cardinals closer has a 3.36 ERA and a 2.75 FIP in 364 frames, with a 4.38 BB/9 mark and a 12.12 K/9 one. He uses a heavy, high-spin four-seamer more than two thirds of the time and complements his arsenal with a slider and a changeup.
Rosenthal would be a worthwhile addition for an already good Mets’ bullpen, but he won’t come for cheap and there are other teams in on him.