New York Mets bring Jon Niese back to New York in an attempt to recapture last year’s magic.
Jon Niese spent the first eight years of his career with the Mets before being traded to Pittsburgh last December for Neil Walker. Niese compiled a 61-61 record with a 3.91 ERA in 177 starts with the Mets. He was 8-6 with a 4.91 ERA for Pittsburgh in 18 starts this year. Here is the deal that brought him back:
The Mets will also send an undisclosed amount of cash to help pay for the contract of Antonio Bastardo. Bastardo was 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 66 appearances with the Pirates last year. He was a disaster for the Mets this year, posting a 4.74 ERA in 41 bullpen appearances. He gave up eight homers in 43.2 innings.
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If you were using Bastardo, you may as well hold on to him. He likely wont get any worse, and should see some holds at the back end of Pittsburgh’s bullpen. You can pick him up in leagues that count holds.
Niese did a great job out of the bullpen for the Mets in the postseason last year, aside from Game 2 of the World Series. He posted five other scoreless appearances. Niese will either slot in as the fifth starter, moving Logan Verrett to the bullpen, or he will pitch out of the bullpen. Considering the success that the had last year in the postseason out of the bullpen, the Mets might just elect to keep him there.
No matter who has the fifth starter’s slot in New York, they are only in play in most fantasy leagues for favorable matchups. Verrett does have a decent 4.20 ERA, but you can likely do better just streaming, even in deep leagues.
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