Mets bolster bullpen with deals for Jake Diekman, Shintaro Fujinami, reports say
The New York Mets' front office has added some versatility to the team's bullpen in a two-day stretch.
The Mets are in agreement on deals with 37-year-old southpaw Jake Diekman and 29-year-old right-hander Shintaro Fujinami, according to multiple reports. The Athletic's Will Sammon was first to report the negotiations with Diekman, while the New York Post's Jon Heyman first reported that Fujinami's deal is worth $3.35 million.
Diekman spent the 2023 season with the White Sox and Rays, tossing 56.2 innings with 64 strikeouts, a 3.34 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.
Fujinami, a native of Japan, debuted in Major League Baseball with the Athletics and Orioles, finishing with a 7-8 record, 7.18 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with 83 strikeouts in 79 innings. He spent the first 10 seasons of his professional career with the Hanshin Tigers in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Diekman began the season with the White Sox but was waived in early May after allowing 10 earned runs in 11.1 innings. Once he joined the Rays, he allowed just 11 earned runs across his final 45.1 innings (2.01 ERA) with 53 strikeouts and a 1.13 ERA.
Diekman deploys a five-pitch mix, leaning heavily on a mid-90s fastball, sweeper and changeup. Last season, his 27.1 percent hard-hit percentage was in the top 1 percent in MLB. Opposing batters' average exit velocity was 84.6 mph - top 2 percent of pitchers in MLB.
Meanwhile, there were hopeful expectations for Fujinami in his first season after he began his career in Japan with four straight Central League All-Star selections. After some struggles over his next few seasons, Fujinami emerged with 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 66.2 innings in his final season in NPB, enough to earn him a $3.25 million deal with the Athletics.
But Fujinami, who rifles in a high-90s fastball that touches triple-digits, along with a splitter and cutter, struggled early on in 2023. He allowed 24 earned runs in 15 innings in his first four starts before moving into the bullpen. After posting a 8.57 ERA in 34 appearances for Oakland, Fujinami was traded less than two weeks before the trade deadline to the Orioles.
Fujinami chiseled down his ERA by allowing 16 earned runs across his final 29.2 innings (4.85 ERA) with the Orioles.
How Jake Diekman and Shintaro Fujinami fit in Mets' bullpen
Diekman will join Brooks Raley as the pair of left-handers in the Mets' bullpen. Fujinami, who started seven games in his first major-league season, could provide a high-upside, flexible arm and depth piece in the middle of games.
The Mets also re-signed Adam Ottavino last week to join a unit that features closer Edwin Diaz, signees Jorge Lopez and Michael Tonkin, along with holdovers Drew Smith, Phil Bickford and Sean Reid-Foley.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets bullpen move: Jake Diekman, Shintaro Fujinami agree to deals
