5 free agent relievers Mets should target this offseason

There has been lots of focus on the Mets' serious need in the starting rotation this offseason, and David Stearns said last week at the GM Meetings that it would be one of their top priorities, with the club aiming to bring in as many as three new starters via free agency and/or trade.

But while the struggles of the rotation were most responsible for the 2023 Mets failing as badly as they did, the bullpen was also a glaring issue.

The 'pen was of course dealt a major blow with the loss of Edwin Diaz for the season due to the freak injury he suffered at the World Baseball Classic. However, even before Diaz went down, the team needed more late-inning options.

Instead of adding enough established arms, though, then-GM Billy Eppler chose to pepper the roster with optionable relievers.

The above did not work out, and the Mets have only two relievers who are locks to be in the bullpen in 2024 -- Diaz and Brooks Raley. Drew Smith, who is eligible for arbitration, could be another option.

That leaves five spots to be filled. And while some of those holes will perhaps addressed internally with who's on the 40-man roster, it can be argued that New York needs to add at least two reliable late-inning options this offseason.

One way they can do that is via free agency.

The boldest name on the market is Josh Hader, but it's hard to see the Mets going after him. Hader will likely want to go somewhere where he'll be the closer and could cost upwards of $20 million per season.

Flamethrowing Jordan Hicks is an intriguing option, but he has serious health concerns -- and only two full seasons of above-average performance since debuting in 2018.

With all that said, here are five free agent relievers the Mets should consider...

HECTOR NERIS

The Mets are familiar with Neris, who was with the Phillies for the first eight seasons of his career (from 2014 to 2021).

He has spent the last two years with the Astros. And while Neris was solid in 2022 (3.72 ERA and 1.01 WHIP), he reached another level this past season. In 68.1 innings over 71 appearances, Neris had a career-best 1.71 ERA to go along with a 1.05 WHIP and 77 strikeouts -- 10.1 per nine.

While Neris' ERA was spectacular in 2023, his velocity dipped a bit -- and his strikeout rate was down from where it was in 2022 (10.9) and his career average before the season (11.4 per nine).

But a look at Neris' advanced stats via Baseball Savant shows a wall of red, with him ranked as great when it comes to pitching run value, fastball run value, xBA, average exit velocity, and hard hit rate. He was well above average in xERA, chase percentage, and whiff percentage.

MATT MOORE

Moore isn't the biggest name, but since transitioning to relief full-time during the 2022 season, he's posted a 2.22 ERA (3.28 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP while striking out 142 in 125.2 innings (10.2 per 9), and his chase percentage was among the best in baseball in 2023.

Moore has serious crossover ability (righties slashed only .216/.272/.338 against him this season), but he did struggle against lefties -- which could be a one-season blip.

Stuff-wise, Moore throws his fastball around half of the time -- and it averaged 94.1 mph this past season.

Moore's arsenal also includes a changeup and curve. Hitters batted just .163 with a .237 slugging percentage against his change in 2023.

REYNALDO LOPEZ

Lopez has come into his own over the last three seasons, posting a 3.14 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 201 strikeouts in 189 innings over 149 appearances (including 10 starts) for the White Sox.

He converted to relief full-time in 2023, wound up pitching for both the Angels and Guardians after the trade deadline, and struck out a career-best 11.3 per nine.

After allowing just one homer in 65.1 innings in 2022, the gopher ball bit Lopez in 2023, with him serving up eight. But his stuff is legit.

Lopez features a two-pitch mix that includes a high-octane fastball he threw 64.3 percent of the time in 2023 (while averaging 98.3 mph) and a slider.

Hitters slugged a minuscule .319 against Lopez's fastball in 2023 and .389 against the slider.

PHIL MATON

The 30-year-old Maton doesn't throw hard (his average fastball velocity in 2023 was roughly 89 mph), but he does a tremendous job limiting hard contact.

Maton's hard hit percentage was literally in the 100th percentile this past season, and his average exit velocity was in the 99th percentile.

The pitch he threw most often in 2023 (40.3 percent of the time) was his curve, which opposing batters hit just .169 with a .282 slugging percentage against.

Maton also features a sweeper, and has been very reliable when it comes to taking the ball -- throwing 66.2, 65.2, and 66.0 innings in the last three seasons, respectively.

DAVID ROBERTSON

Robertson didn't want the Mets to trade him at the deadline, when he was sent to the Marlins.

And it would make plenty of sense for New York to consider a reunion with the still-effective setup man.

Robertson struggled after being dealt to Miami, but rounded back into form in September, allowing a run in only one of his last 11 appearances of the regular season.

Entering his age-39 season, it's fair to believe that Robertson would be open to a one-year deal.