New York Mets: Hidden free agent bullpen gems still on the market

With the offseason past the halfway mark, the New York Mets still have plenty of arms left on the free agent market to help out the bullpen.

The New York Mets have been on the prowl for a new bullpen arm to add to the mix for the 2017 season. That search has been magnified by the likely impending suspension of 2016 MLB save leader Jeurys Familia for around 30 games to begin next season due to a since resolved domestic violence incident.

Setup man and former closer Addison Reed will by all measures be tabbed as Familia’s replacement, but that leaves the rest of the ‘pen vulnerable due to a lack of experience and depth throughout the high levels of the Mets organization.

Josh Smoker, Josh Edgin and Sean Gilmartin are the only lefties currently near or at the big league level for manager Terry Collins to use next season. Therefore, signing a southpaw remains a large area of need for general manager Sandy Alderson.

And as for the rest of the group, Hansel Robles and Erik Goeddel are the only at all experienced arms that appear penciled in currently for roles in 2017. Both have shown flashes of good relief ability, but they’ve been inconsistent to this point.

So ESNY will take you on a journey through some of the lesser realized bullpen gems that the New York Mets could sign before the approaching start of Spring Training.

LHP Travis Wood

2016 Season stats – 61.0 IP, 2.95 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 24 BB/47 K

Former 2013 All-Star starter Travis Wood made a full-time transition to the bullpen last season for the Chicago Cubs for the first time in his career. And the lefty definitely impressed.

Wood limited southpaws to a non-existent .128 average and .447 OPS, completely fulfilling his role as a lefty specialist for Cubs manager Joe Maddon.

He did falter a bit against right-handed hitters though, allowing a .265 average, 12 doubles and six home runs over 132 plate appearances versus them. But a .228 average in such situations in 2015 suggests that he does have the ability to fix that issue.

A move to sign Wood would not only give a proven lefty to throw into the mix with the trio they currently have, but it would allow Collins to use him as a long reliever/spot starter as well, considering his six years in that role in the majors.

RHP Luke Hochevar

2016 Season stats – 37.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 9 BB/40 K

A first overall pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2006, Luke Hochevar failed in his intended role as a starter, compiling a 5.44 ERA over 128 starts with the organization.

As soon as Royals manager Ned Yost gave him a chance to come out of the bullpen, he became a different pitcher. In 171 innings in his new found role, Hochevar managed a 2.95 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP, with 178 strikeouts to just 45 walks.

His pinpoint control has led to low WHIP and walk numbers, so when paired with a mid-90s fastball, his strikeouts have taken off as well.

Hochevar doesn’t have any significant closing experience, as he was blocked by Greg Holland and Kelvin Herrera in KC. But postseason pitching quality is another factor in the determination of a player’s clutch ability – and Hochevar was an ace then.

In 10.2 innings pitched during the Royals’ 2015 World Series winning postseason trip, the 6-foot-5 righty didn’t allow a run with four strikeouts and just six hits and one walk given up over that span.

So it’s safe to say that if Hochevar is needed in a high leverage situation, he would handle it just fine for the Metropolitans.

RHP Jonathan Papelbon

2016 Season stats – 35.0 IP, 19 SV, 4.37 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 3.69 FIP, 14 BB/31 K

Jonathan Papelbon is on the outs of the Washington Nationals‘ bullpen due to a sharp decline in 2016. But it can’t be forgotten that over the prior two seasons, the former six-time All-Star closer compiled 63 saves, paired with a 2.08 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP.

Although the velocity difference that allowed his splitter/fastball combination to be so devastating hasn’t been what it used to be for some time, Papelbon was able to keep pace with his success due to the fact that he can hit his spots consistently.

That translated into early success in 2016, but things quickly fell off after that, as the Nationals traded for Mark Melancon and didn’t sign back Papelbon. But if the Mets took a cheap flyer on a one-year deal for him, he might be worth the risk.

Alderson made a very similar move last offseason with former closer Jim Henderson, even though he was never the caliber of reliever that Papelbon was.

Although that was ultimately a failed signing by Alderson, it shouldn’t scare him from giving a 12-year veteran such as Papelbon a chance to make another mark in Queens.

RHP Joe Smith

2016 Season stats – 52.0 IP, 6 SV, 3.46 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 18 BB/40 K

Joe Smith not only has the most bland name ever conjured up by a parent, he was also drafted by the Mets in the third round of the 2006 draft. By 2007, the submariner was in Queens, where he spent two seasons.

During that time, he produced a 3.51 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 107.2 innings pitched. But then he was traded to the Cleveland Indians, with the Mets receiving mainly relievers Sean Green and J.J. Putz in return for him.

Since then, Smith has had a very prosperous career, garnering a 2.93 ERA, along with 0.6 HR/9 and 7.5 K/9 rates.

A move by Alderson to sign him would mark the second triumphant return for an ex-Met back to New York in two years, as Jose Reyes very vocally has been happy with his decision to come back.

The Mets haven’t had a consistently used submariner since Chad Bradford in 2006. So Smith’s unique arm angle and experience closing games – as he has 29 career saves – would help freshen up the bullpen with some new blood.

RHP Santiago Casilla

2016 Season stats – 58.0 IP, 31 SV, 3.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 19 BB/65 K

Former San Francisco Giants closer Santiago Casilla is in a similar situation as Papelbon, except without the statistical falling out. His 31 saves last season was the second highest total in his five-plus years closing games for San Fran.

Although he is 36-years-old, it’s a wonder that the Giants haven’t made a stronger effort to bring Casilla back, as he had a 2.42 ERA during his time by the bay.

Because he is older, Alderson could theoretically sign Casilla for a cheaper contract than a lot of the other bigger names that have signed so far like Brett Cecil and Mike Dunn.

His past job as a “sandman” would provide Collins with some options toward the end of tight games. It would also create a pretty intimidating Big Three at the back end of the ‘pen with Reed and eventually Familia already there.

LHP Jerry Blevins and RHP Fernando Salas

Blevins’ 2016 Season stats – 42.0 IP, 2 SV, 2.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 15 BB/52 K

Salas’ 2016 Season stats – 73.2 IP, 6 SV, 3.91 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 19 BB/64 K

If anyone saw the final month of the 2016 season, it’s impossible not to realize the monumentally large impact that this duo had on the Mets making the postseason.

Jerry Blevins made a triumphant return in 2016 after twice breaking his arm in 2015, leading to just five innings tossed that year.

He broke the norm though, allowing a .255 average against southpaws and only a stingy .182 against right-handed batters. But look back to Blevins’ last full season in 2014 and he held lefties to a .160 average, making 2016 a sort of anomaly.

Money is the issue with the 6-foot-6 lefty, as he is looking for a multi-year deal. Alderson has been publicly adamant about not wanting to give such deals to relief arms due to their high turnover rate, but Blevins is about as consistent as they come.

Fernando Salas was brought over in a post-trade deadline swap with the LA Angels, posting a 4.47 ERA in 56.1 innings for Anaheim before the deal. But in 17.1 innings thrown for the Mets leading to the Wild Card, he worked a 2.08 ERA and an invisible 0.63 WHIP.

Salas won’t blow anyone away with his stuff, as he relies on pitch placement and solid movement to do the trick – and it’s worked well so far. He has a career 3.64 ERA and has struck out nearly a batter an inning, something valuable in today’s relief game.