It’s been a patchwork job from David Stearns, but the New York Mets continued accruing bullpen options on Friday when they signed relievers Jake Diekman and Shintaro Fujinami to one-year deals.
For a team that only had three controllable, viable bullpen options heading into the offseason, the Mets are attempting to take the salvaging route by bringing on high-upside options to bolster their stable of relievers for 2024.
Considerable uncertainties remain, which means new manager Carlos Mendoza could find himself keeping some late-inning responsibilities fluid. But this is how we see the back end of New York’s bullpen stacking up this season.
Fujinami will likely serve as a middle reliever considering how much he struggled in his first year in the majors after a successful decade in Japan. He posted a 7.18 ERA with the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles while struggling with control, walking 5.1 batters per nine innings.
Closer: Edwin Diaz
This is the only role of the Mets’ bullpen that is bolted to the floor — and rightfully so.
Diaz was the best reliever in baseball in 2022, striking out more than half of the batters he faced (118 strikeouts, 235 batters faced) while posting a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves. His 2023 campaign was derailed before it even began after he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee during the World Baseball Classic in March.
While his rehab was ahead of schedule, allowing the Mets to flirt with a return to the mound toward the end of last year, a team that was out of the playoff race meant there was no need to rush him back. Instead, he had a full offseason to ramp up and should be good to go without issue.
Set-Up Man: Adam Ottavino
An unlikely reunion came to fruition toward the end of January when Ottavino re-signed on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. He initially turned down a player option in his contract following 2023 citing the uncertainty of the team’s direction.
The veteran right-hander struggled in his fluctuating role which ultimately forced him to be the team’s closer after the trade deadline following the departure of David Robertson. After going 6-3 with a 2.06 ERA in 2022, Ottavino went 1-7 with a 3.21 ERA across 66 appearances.
Expect a shorter leash, however. In eighth innings last year, he sported a boated 4.76 ERA.
Backup Option: Jake Diekman
The veteran southpaw shook off a miserable start to last season with the Chicago White Sox, which led to his release, by rediscovering top-notch stuff with the Tampa Bay Rays.
After posting a 7.94 ERA across 13 appearances (11.1 innings) in Chicago, he had a 2.18 ERA across 50 appearances (45.1 innings pitched) in Tampa with 53 strikeouts and a 1.125 WHIP where he performed in a versatile role — pitching in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.
His eighth-inning prowess should have him on call for the set-up role if Ottavino struggles. In 16.2 eighth innings last year, he allowed just two earned runs on five hits (1.08 ERA) with 25 strikeouts. Opponents batted just .096 against him in the eighth.
7th Inning: Brooks Raley
Raley was one of the Mets’ most valuable relievers last season, posting a 2.80 ERA in 54.2 innings pitched with 66 strikeouts. He carved his niche in the seventh inning where he should likely stay.
Not only did he have a 2.38 ERA in that frame in 2023, but opponents batted .195 against him with a BABIP of .246.
