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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KANSAS CITY, MO – JUNE 12: Kansas City Royals Pitcher Kelvin Herrera (40) prepares to take closing pitches during the MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday June 12th, 2018 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.(Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – JUNE 12: Kansas City Royals Pitcher Kelvin Herrera (40) prepares to take closing pitches during the MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday June 12th, 2018 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.(Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Free Agency (More Bullpen Help)

The Mets generally don’t spend much in free agency. This past offseason, they signed Todd Frazier, Adrian Gonzalez, Jason Vargas, and Jay Bruce to all relatively bargain contracts. If they use trades to improve their catching position and get one more bullpen arm, they can focus on getting a closer and a setup man.

Kelvin Herrera

To me, Kelvin Herrera makes the most sense as a closer. He had 17 saves last year with a 2.44 ERA with both Kansas City and Washington. The previous year he had 26 saves in his first year in the closer role. Lifetime, Herrera has an effective 2.82 ERA.

Herrera is coming off a one-year $7.9 million deal with the Royals. He’ll likely get a raise with an annual salary in the ballpark of $10 million. He has high leverage experience and a ton of velocity.

Adam Ottavino

Next up on the list is a setup man, and Adam Ottavino was just that with the Rockies this year. In 75 games last year, Ottavino had a 2.43 ERA, in Coors Field no less! Outside of an atrocious 5.06 ERA in 2017 he’s pitched to an ERA lower than four out of the last six years.

After a salary of $7 million last year, a short-term deal with roughly $9-$12 million per year sounds about right for Ottavino.

Now the Mets could go into 2019 with a revamped bullpen, something that good teams need in today’s game.

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