3 Mets trade targets who could give them high-leverage relief innings
The New York Mets have been playing better baseball recently, slightly changing the narrative regarding the next trade deadline. The organization will have to make transcendental decisions regarding their approach regarding whether they decide to become buyers or sellers by the end of July.
The playoffs extended to a third wild card open possibilities regarding a possible push for the team this season. In this sense, if they become buyers, the Mets need considerable support in the high-leverage situation of their bullpen where these three options fulfill the purpose of efficient pitchers, with some experience and a relatively affordable cost.
1) Ryan Pressly
The Houston Astros are playing below expectations in this 2024 season. Additionally, the injuries that have attacked the starting pitching rotation and inconsistencies of players in the offense and the bullpen make a call to consider this successful organization as sellers by this next deadline.
Among the team's transfer options are rental players such as Alex Bregman. However, there are other players, such as veteran Ryan Pressly, who could be on the trade market after presenting inconsistency for the second consecutive year in his numbers.
Even in a mixed scenario in which the team seeks to buy and sell players to stay in the race for qualification, trading Pressly would not be a crazy idea. The Astros setup man and former closer finds himself with an ERA north of 5.00 due to an increase in hard-hit contact allowed and a higher percentage of walks issued, the highest since his debut.
However, some points show a possible positive regression for Pressly this season. According to Statcast's expected metrics, his expected ERA is below 4.00 thanks to better efficiency of his slider and curveball, two important pitches in his repertoire.
In this sense, Pressly should try to modify the distribution of use of his pitches to achieve better results. He had increased the use of his fastball, using it as his main pitch when in previous years he depended more on his slider and curve, a pitch that manages to induce a contact of less strength, a fundamental aspect for a pitcher of his age who is beginning to lose the speed of his pitches.
The cost to acquire a pitcher like Pressly due to his results in 2024 and last season makes him a buy-low candidate for the Mets. Pressly would become the team's setup man, supporting pitchers like Reed Garrett in their workload and serving as a relevant bridge for Edwin Diaz in a run for a playoff spot.
2) Tanner Scott
The Miami Marlins have been out of the race for a playoff spot since early in the season. In this sense, the Florida team will be listening to several players on its roster, especially starting pitchers like Jesus Luzardo and relievers like Tanner Scott.
Scott is in a second consecutive season of good results. After a 2023 season, where he posted a 2.31 ERA where he achieved his highest strikeout rate of his career with 33.9%, he finds himself in 2024 showing dominance on the mound.
Scott is a two-pitch pitcher who has become elite. His fastball, which he throws at an average velocity of 96.5 mph, has managed to keep the hitter's batting average below .100 while his slugging percentage is at an incredible level below .150. Likewise, his slider induces limited contact by generating almost 40% swing and miss although, in the contact they manage to connect with it, it has a slugging rate above .400.
Likewise, its rate of inducing ground balls continues to increase over the years, which is a significant aspect because, when combined with a low hard-hit contact allowed, the positive results in favor of the pitcher increase. Scott is a pitcher who would cover two essential aspects that the Mets bullpen lacks, a reliable pitcher in high-leverage situations and a dominant left-handed pitcher, something they lost with the injury of Brooks Raley.
3) Michael Kopech
The trade market will be full of reliever options this summer but the Mets must be smart and promote the highest return possible, that is, good stuff pitchers who have the potential to be efficient with the necessary adjustments without overpaying. Possibly in the case of Michael Kopech, former starter and now reliever for the Chicago White Sox, his pedigree as a former top prospect makes him a sought-after and expensive target.
However, its market value had not been as low as it is now. Control problems and walks have caused his results to become increasingly worse with an ERA of 5.43 last season, the highest of his career.
However, Kopech has some still impressive stuff. His overall stuff+ sits above 140 where pitchers like Jared Jones, Corbin Burnes, Tarik Skubal, and Zack Wheeler rank lower in this category.
His fastball continues to be electric with an average speed of 98 mph, inducing a batting average below .230 and a swing and miss above 33%, something considerable considering the level from this point onwards that is mostly seen in breaking pitches. Likewise, the stuff+ derived from the fastball is located at an elite and top level in the league, but within its arsenal, location is still a point to improve.
At his current level of production, Kopech could be a viable option for the Mets. With his potential, the Mets could be acquiring an elite pitcher in the bullpen for the remainder of the season capable of helping the team push toward a postseason berth.
This article was originally published on risingapple.com as 3 Mets trade targets who could give them high-leverage relief innings.