Fansided

How Brodie Van Waganen can make the Mets competitive in 2019

By Matt O'Leary

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: New York Mets COO Jeff Wilpon speaks to the media prior to a game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 30, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: New York Mets COO Jeff Wilpon speaks to the media prior to a game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 30, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 21: T.J. McFarland #30 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch in the ninth inning of the MLB game against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field on April 21, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Diamondbacks won 6-2. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 21: T.J. McFarland #30 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch in the ninth inning of the MLB game against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field on April 21, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Diamondbacks won 6-2. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Step 3: Trade for a Reliever

The Mets bullpen was a major issue last season. The Mets bullpen ERA was a 4.96 which was third worst in the entire league. They’re going to need to bring in a few pieces to help out here and they should start with T.J. McFarland.

The Diamondbacks may be looking to overhaul their team and sell off some pieces. If so, a guy like McFarland should be able to be had at a reasonable price.

Last season, McFarland appeared in 47 games and had a 2.00 ERA. It was by far the 29-year-old’s best season of his career. For the first time in his career, he had a sub 1.2 whip as well, a positive sign in his growth as a reliever.

Lindsay is an outfielder who is a former second-round pick. He struggled a bit at the dish this past year but is still young enough to develop. Evans is a utility guy who saw a little bit of action in the bigs in 2017 and 2018 but has spent most of his time in AAA.

At AAA Vegas last season he hit .256 with 14 home runs, 39 RBI and an .820 OPS. That should be enough for the Mets to land their lefty specialist.

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