3 trades the Mets should make after the Max Scherzer injury
By Tim Boyle
2) Mets trade: Jordan Lyles is a decent veteran placeholder to think about
There are a couple of players similar to Jordan Lyles worth considering. He gets the number two spot on this list because of all of the circumstances. The Baltimore Orioles are definitely not competing this year. While the same could be true of contemporaries such as Drew Smyly of the Chicago Cubs or Martin Perez of the Texas Rangers, those two clubs aren’t nearly as buried as the Orioles already are.
Lyles is making $6 million this year and has an $11 million option for 2023. There’s a $1 million buyout which would most definitely be utilized.
The 31-year-old righty has bounced around plenty in his years as a major leaguer. He fits into the category of ‘available’ for sure especially when considering he has led the American League in earned runs for the last two seasons.
In order to lead the league in earned runs, you do have to stay healthy. Lyles hasn’t been the Cal Ripken Jr. of pitchers, though. Last season with the Rangers was his first to top 150 innings of work. He was 10-13 with a 5.15 ERA. This year has gone better in Baltimore with a 2-4 record and 4.11 ERA. He entered Thursday with a league-high 50 hits allowed which certainly isn’t promising.
To answer the question as to what the Mets may do when/if everyone gets healthy: Lyles can always move to the bullpen and become the club’s long man if Trevor Williams hasn’t begun to pitch better.
Is trading for Lyles going to secure the Mets a pennant? Absolutely not. At the very likely cost of a low-level prospect or even a guy whose stock is fading such as Thomas Szapucki, the Mets can add a veteran presence to their roster.