The Mets have reached agreement with free agent lefty Jerry Blevins on a deal that will bring him back to New York, MLB Network’s Matt Yallof reports on Twitter and Blevins himself confirms in a tweet. Per Yallof, the veteran southpaw will earn $4MM and can tack on another $1MM through incentives.
Blevins, 32, came to New York from the Nationals last winter via trade and posted five hitless frames to open the year. But successive arm fractures ended his season at that early juncture, breaking up a three-year run in which he averaged 61 frames annually.
The Nats shipped Blevins to their division rivals after he put up an ugly 4.87 ERA in 2014. But by some measures, that was actually the most productive season of his career. He put up career bests that year in strikeouts (10.4 K/9), FIP (2.77), xFIP (3.25), and SIERA (2.93).
Obviously, the Mets like the outlook for Blevins, both in terms of his ability and his health. He certainly has put up strong run prevention numbers in the past — including a 2.80 ERA over 125 1/3 innings from 2013-14 — and has dominated left-handed hitters to the tune of a career .206/.257/.322 slash.
While the arm troubles are concerning, it isn’t as if they were the typical elbow/shoulder problems that could prove persistent. Blevins was simply unlucky, first taking a line drive to the forearm and then re-fracturing it in an ill-timed fall.
Good pickup, but would also like to see them add a “shutdown” type reliever as well. I’m still a little surprised that they have yet to address the bullpen much and that weakness of theirs was shown nationally in the postseason much like the Astros. However, Houston has upgraded their bullpen quickly in the offseason.
I would also like to see them get a shutdown reliever (missed the boat on Cishek and Sipp), but their infield defense was a painfully glaring issue. They lost games 4 & 5 due to mediocre fielding thanks to their infield. The Mets added some quality gloves in Walker and Cabrera, although opinions on the latter’s ability vary.
They most likely signed Blevins since it was pretty cheap, plus if the team does not have to pay Cuddyer the remaining money on his contract, they should be able to get a higher quality RP. Although I would prefer another outfielder so Wright doesn’t have to hit too high in the order. (I don’t trust Wright’s back problems for a second!)
I really don’t want to see Cabrera starting. Flores doesn’t have much range, but he deserves to play. He can hit, and after one full season in the big leagues, I would like to see if he can progress as a hitter and fielder too. I’m not too disappointed on them not pursuing Cishek.
Couldn’t agree more with Ruben_Tomorrow – the middle relief is such a glaring weakness – why are the Mets wasting awesome starters just to have the games blown by weak middle relief, while the rest of baseball is shoring up killer bullpens.
How did the Mets let the Royals sign Joakim Soria? Orioles sign O’day? Astros sign Sipp?
Such a shame to waste a killer starting rotation by leaving them with weak and questionable middle relievers.
For some reason the Mets seem to think they have something there, but if there’s a place to spend money it’s on a shut down 8th inning guy, and some kind of outfield bat. We’re so close, it’s a dam shame to let it go with just those holes to fill.
Ooh, was I ticked when I read that the Royals signed Soria! I expected them not to sign O’Day since his asking price was too high for their liking, but felt that the left handed Sipp would have been killing two birds with one stone for the Mets. I hadn’t read anything on Cishek talking to any teams but he was swept up in a single day, and again, I was disappointed that the Mets were not involved at all. I really thought Cishek would have been a nice compliment to Familia and create a synergy between the two.
The Yankees seem to be dismantling their bullpen for some reason, so maybe the Mets can take something lol!
Addison Reed has been nice for the Mets, I think he posted something around a 1.43 ERA in the regular season for them, but he isn’t a shutdown type player. Some nights he has it, and some nights he doesn’t.
I really feel that the Mets are on the cusp of something great, but they are shooting themselves in the foot by playing spectator for the most part this off-season. They really can not count on the Crash-onals to return for 2016, and have to prepare for a dogfight with Washington for the NL East. The Trade Deadline most likely won’t see the Mets in a close race like it did in 2015, allowing them to pull the trigger on Cespedes (who they have a shot to bring back if he goes unsigned entering January).
The Mets have to take care of business now like the Cubs, have…okay not EXACTLY like the Cubs have, but they still have not addressed all of their needs, and that can prove the difference maker in a playoff race.
Good signing but the Mets are not prepared, at this juncture to compete. Their lineup is much shorter without an impact bat.
Compared to last year offensively you have:
The good:
Conforto coming off of a 270 freshman showing – this can easily swing to 230, probably easier than it can jump to 300. No doubt he’s a good ball player and rose to the occasion but relying on him to be a middle of the order fixture could prove to be a costly gamble.
Granderson – proved himself a capable lead off hitter with pop. I hate to use sure thing but he seems to be the closest thing to one in this lineup
Cespedes – without Cespedes this lineup was as unproductive as any in baseball. Nuff said
Murphy – at best you can call the offense of murphys and walkers a wash
Flores had a very productive first full season – whether he’s a starter on opening day remains to be seen
D’arnaud finally got his act together but had long spells on the DL with freak injuries – can he stay healthy a whole year?
Cuddyer retired
The bad
Wright – Going into last year we thought wright was going to be fully healed with injury woes behind him. Lo and behold he’s a gamble at remaining healthy with a significant spine disability.
Duda – proved himself consistently inconsistent
Lagares – nagging injury put him into a 4th outfielder slot after signing a long(ish) term deal. I think he needs surgery but the mets think rest will work. Didn’t work last year. We’ll see.
Kevin Plawecki – needs to prove he can hit major league pitching.
Asdrubal Cabrera – for a resource tight team why did they sign a guy for decent money who resembles an older, not much of an upgrade defensively, switch hitting Flores? Hope he’s better but can you really count on him.
Pitching
Big steps forward with their starting staff
Blevins is a good signing, Familia is great at closing, I think Robles steps it up to be an 8th inning gut – but the team desperately needs a dependable 8th inning guy and a swing man. I would have personally loved Yusmiero Petit back along with Steve cishek…
The mets need to at least add 1 impact bat or else everyone taking a step to the left can potentially retard the development of Conforto (less protection) and we may see a redux of their first half offense.
But what the hell do I know.
The Mets have been on the right track this offseason. Unfortunately it’s unlikely that they will get an impact bat from FA. Their corner OF positions and 3rd are locked up. That leaves only 1B and I doubt we will see a significant upgrade (i.e. – Chris Davis) there. At this point, the only realistic FA acquisition would be in CF. Cespedes is a possibility but Fowler or Span are more realistic. Granderson can move down the lineup because he is on borrowed time as a leadoff man. The rotation is set and they have good middle relief. If they can get a lock down an 8th inning guy they should be ready for next season.