From Hades to Hader?
As the Mets search for possibilities to upgrade a bullpen that performed at a hellacious level last season, Josh Hader’s name is among the most intriguing, and team officials are interested, according to an industry source. But the level of that interest remains unclear.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Monday that Milwaukee will listen to offers for the fire-balling lefty, a former CAA client of general manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s. Hader, 25, has pitched to a 2.52 ERA over the past two seasons with 281 strikeouts over 157 innings.
The biggest question might be whether the Mets are willing to surrender top young talent for a high-end reliever in a second straight offseason — Tuesday is the one-year anniversary of the blockbuster that brought Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano to the Mets. In that deal, the Mariners acquired top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn, in addition to Jay Bruce and Anthony Swarzak, along with minor leaguer Gerson Bautista.
But Diaz’s struggles in his first season with the Mets are part of the reason the bullpen has become such a pressing concern for the team. Part of Hader’s intrigue is the fact he is arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason, leaving him under club control through 2023.
From the major league roster, J.D. Davis might be a piece the Mets are willing to move in such a deal, but it would likely take additional prospects. The Mets’ best talent remains in the lower level of the minors, after a draft that netted pitchers Matt Allan and Josh Wolf and third baseman Brett Baty.
Jeff McNeil was nearly included in the deal with the Mariners last winter, but has since proven his worthiness as an everyday player and would be less likely than Davis for inclusion in any deal. McNeil is projected as the Mets’ primary third baseman for next season, after spending much of 2019 bouncing between the outfield and infield. Dominic Smith is largely a man without a position and could also be a trade consideration.
Two big relievers were removed from the board before Thanksgiving, with Will Smith signing a three-year deal worth $39 million with the Braves, and another lefty, Drew Pomeranz, receiving $34 million over four years from the Padres.
The Mets could use another proven arm for their bullpen, especially given the possibility Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman will be moved to the rotation. That starting vacancy exists after Zack Wheeler declined the club’s offer worth $17.8 million, placing him on the free-agent market.
Lugo was the Mets’ best reliever last season, finishing the year as the closer after Diaz and Jeurys Familia flopped. But the Mets were also pleased by the performance they received from lefty Justin Wilson, who joined Lugo to give the team a formidable 1-2 punch.
The Mets have spoken to Triple-A Syracuse manager Tony DeFrancesco about potentially joining the field staff as first-base coach, according to a source. DeFrancesco has indicated he would also be comfortable serving as the catching instructor. Glenn Sherlock previously held both roles. … The Mets tendered contracts to all eight of their arbitration-eligible players: Diaz, Lugo, Gsellman, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Marcus Stroman, Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo.