MLB Free Agency: New York Mets agree to deal with Kyle Farnsworth
By Hayden Kane
Having parted ways with one veteran bullpen arm this off-season in 40-year-old LaTroy Hawkins, the New York Mets have turned to another season right-handed reliever.
Today the Mets agreed to a deal with 38-year-old Kyle Farnsworth.
#Mets sign Kyle Farnsworth to minor-league deal.
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinMedia) February 3, 2014
Jon Heyman of CBS has some of the specifics on the terms of the contract.
kyle farnsworth gets $1M if in majors on 2014 deal. #mets
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 3, 2014
farnsworth also has an additional $1.5M in incentives in his mets deal. so if all goes well, he could earn $2.5M total.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 3, 2014
When last we saw Farnsworth he was pitching for the playoff bound Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013. Splitting his time between them and the Tampa Bay Rays, he made 48 appearances with a 4.70 ERA in 2013. Perhaps the most concerning development for Farnsworth, a fireball-throwing guy in his best days, were some of his declines in that area.
According to FanGraphs, Farnsworth was forced to rely on his sinker the most he has in his career: he threw it 47.1% of the time, all the way up from 9.1% of the time in 2012. What was once a tough fastball/slider combination for Farnsworth has lost its punch, something that is also reflected in his career-low 6.57 K/9 last year.
Not much risk for the Mets here, but as is often the case with these signings, there might not much reward either. Unless they are looking for a pitcher willing to charge the plate, of course.
