The Mets have signed left-hander T.J. McFarland to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. McFarland has been assigned to Triple-A Syracuse for now but will presumably receive an invitation to major league Spring Training.
McFarland, 34 in June, has pitched in each of the last 10 MLB seasons, spending time with the Orioles, Diamondbacks, A’s and Cardinals. He never racks up huge amounts of strikeouts but succeeds by generally avoiding walks and keeping the ball on the ground. For his career, he’s struck out just 13.5 percent of batters faced, barely half of the usual league average, which was 23.6 percent for relievers in 2022. But he’s gotten worm burners on 62.1 percent of balls in play, well beyond last year’s 43.5 percent average.
Though a grounder-heavy approach can certainly be a recipe for success, it also can leave a pitcher vulnerable to getting tossed around by the wheel of fortune. With the Cardinals in 2021, McFarland posted a 2.56 ERA with rate stats similar to his career numbers. In 2022, back with the Cards again, his grounder rate dropped to 53 percent after being at 63.7 the year before. His batting average on balls in play also leaped from .261 to .333 and his strand rate went from 81.5 to 60.4 percent. That caused his ERA to more than double up to 6.61.
For the Mets, they’ve been trying to patch together a bullpen for 2023 after Edwin Díaz, Adam Ottavino, Seth Lugo, Trevor May, Trevor Williams, Joely Rodríguez and Mychal Givens all became free agents after 2022. Díaz and Ottavino have since been re-signed, while they’ve also acquired Brooks Raley and signed David Robertson. In terms of lefties, assuming Joey Lucchesi and David Peterson will be working as starters, that leaves Raley and Tayler Saucedo as the primary southpaw relievers. The addition of McFarland will give them some veteran depth without using up a roster spot for now.
Man! I really wanted Texas to get him… a little over 10 years ago during the rule 5 draft when Baltimore picked him up in the Rule 5 draft. His is a name I will always remember.
He had some success coming out of the cards pen. Nothing special but definitely a good depth piece to have in case of injury to a lefty.
TJ has a far way to make it to the land of the MLB then for such a veteran.
Back with Buck
LHP depth always good.
I absolutely love every one of these low risk, high or any upside at all pick ups. I want 5 more of these guys for the pen.
Relief pitcher. Could be really good, could be awful. Who knows?
That’s why you compile as many as these low cost guys as you can. Especially ones who have shown they can put up a great year when they’re on. You get 5-10 of them and even if 2 work out, that’s huge for your pen.
Worm burners?
Interesting way to say grounders, as opposed to what Sid Fernandez used to do. I believe he once had a complete game with all 27 outs being unassisted – Ks or fly balls.
Taylor Saucedo may be the one who could be DFA’d to put him on the 40-man if he earns it in Spring Training. However, someone else will have to be DFA’d first if and when Correa signs.
Peterson and Lucchesi are candidates for the bullpen/long-man roles, too, unless Cookie is traded, so I don’t really see them looking for another lefty in the pen outside of Raley. They have other NRI’s including Hunter who could make the opening day roster.
Why would you assume Lucchesi and Peterson are starting? Are we starting 8 pitchers or something? They’ll either be in the minors or long relievers
Peterson has options. I’m not sure about Lucchesi. I don’t know about Megill’s options either.
It presumes they’re working as starters but doesn’t presume they’re working in the MLB- I’d rather have them stretched out in Syracuse ready to step up, considering the average age of the presumed rotation is almost 36 years old.
He was bad last year. Very very bad. Hope he turns it around because he seems like a great dude. Was very solid the year before so who knows?
He’ll be a Syracuse Met until an injury happens. Not a bad idea to have someone at Triple AAA in case of injury. The ok not great option every team needs.