The Mets are one of many teams to have checked in on veteran southpaw Tony Watson, per Jon Heyman of the MLB Network (via Twitter). The only southpaws currently projected for the Mets’ Major League roster are Chasen Shreve and Alex Claudio, both of whom joined the club as non-roster invitees. Joey Lucchesi might at some point join them, but the former starter underwent Tommy John surgery in June, and he won’t be ready at the start of the year.
The Mets have one of the more improved rosters of the offseason, but Watson would fill one of their few remaining holes. The 36-year-old has quietly been one of the more consistent lefty relievers in the game over the last decade. He debuted with the Pirates way back in 2011, spending seven seasons with the Buccos. All these years later, Watson is still, in a way, contributing in Pittsburgh. He was dealt to the Dodgers at the 2017 trade deadline for Angel German and Oneil Cruz, the latter of whom is pushing his way to the Majors. Cruz has big-game power, and he is one of Pittsburgh’s most promising prospects, as well as being one of the more distinctive young players in the game.
For Watson himself, he moved on from the Dodgers after a half season, Watson signing with the Giants and spending three successful seasons in the bay. After half a year with the Angels, the Giants re-acquired Watson at last year’s trade deadline. For his career, Watson has never had a full season ERA higher than 4.17, and he’s made between 60 and 78 appearances in every season since 2012, except for the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
A number of teams have understandably checked in on Watson. It wouldn’t be surprising if almost every contender in the league had checked in on Watson, given his sure-to-be reasonable contract demands. Watson made $1MM last season, and he only once earned a yearly salary higher than $3.5MM. Even for non-contenders, Watson could draw interest as an eventual trade asset, though Watson himself would presumably prefer to choose his own contender at this juncture.
The veteran Watson is the top available bullpen lefty available on the free agent market. This deep into the offseason, few options remain. Fernando Abad, Hector Santiago, and Ross Detwiler are the other options available who spent appreciable time on a Major League roster last season. Watson is easily the most accomplished of the four.
He should be back with the Giants. He has been a great reliever for many years. Zaidi make a call to his agent. I would be happily to have him in my team.
They know pitchers and Watson as wellas anybody. So if they don’t want him they believe they have better options.
hey
Same here. I’d like him on the Tigers too. We have Chafin and Soto as the only lefties. Alexander will start until Pineda is ready.
The Tigers have left handlers Locke StJohn and Joey Wentz they should give a shot before the 36 year old Tony Watson.
Nope, Tony Watson has to sign with the Mets. That way, he can sit next to the bench coach, Glenn Sherlock.
I’m all about this!
Awesome! I did not realize that, but it’s another great reason to sign him! After that, the Mets should add Jeff Conine and Doyle Alexander to the coaching staff. Similarly, I was for adding Kevin Millar to the coaching staff when they had Kevin Pillar and Jonathan Villar.
This guy has had a solid career. Also, love the article, TC! Well done
Should be Angel German, not Angel Guzman.
What other contenders are low on lefties?
You need a solid lefty in that division. Soto, Harper…etc. That being said a number of southpaws performed well in Spring Training for the Mets, so this hole may already be filled.
Good point about the NLE. But I’m not sure if the hole is completely filled for the Mets. Shreve is a nice get. But, Claudio… No. Watson is a better option as a 2nd lefty pen arm… for any NLE team
Agreed. If they take two lefty relievers north, they should be Shreve and Watson. I believe teams are going to be allowed to carry 28 players during April, so it would make sense to bring two lefties.
Mets would be well served to sign Watson. I also forgot about Lucchesi. He’d be a solid contributor when eligible to return. He pitched well out of the pen last season.
Has that nice churve thingy
When he comes back, yes out of the pen. But he hasn’t shown the ability to go 2x through a lineup
While I think the need for the situational lefty gets a little overblown at this time of year (focus on getting pitchers who are pitching well, and you can find a lefty later as needed), this year with the expanded roster for the first month there is no excuse not to have one.
If you wait to later it may cost you a Oneil Cruz.
Any contender should take a flier on him since he shouldn’t be expensive. Heck even non contenders should as if he gets hit they would have a little trade chip
The Mets will sign Tony Watson, trade J.D. Davis, Dominic Smith, prospects Ronny Mauricio and Joander Suarez and the 11th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft to the Brewers for Josh Hader and cash and call up Josh Walker from the minors, so the Mets will have 3 lefties in their elite bullpen this year.
@Timothy Frith
Is that you @Dan Hunter?
I’d have to do that if I were Milwaukee, I think, lol. Restock the farm, get 2 major league hitters and a top pick….then just slide Devin Williams into the closer role.
As much as I tend to doubt Mets fans, this trade makes sense to me. If I were the Brewers, I’d be looking to trade Hader. Injury waiting to happen, about to get expensive, still a couple holes to fill in the lineup…….Yep, I’d do it.
The Brewers aren’t trading Josh Hader, the most dominant bullpen arm in baseball history, unless Stearns is knocked off his feet with a return, and 2 arby non-needle moving bats, 2 underwhelming prospects, and a draft-pick 3-5 years away from the big-leagues, at best, isn’t doing it.
Bud Selig: scouts don’t find Mauricio underwhelming at all. He’s a top rated prospect. I could see Milwaukee not going for it but that a HUGE overpay from the Mets. When has any team given up that type quantity (without even getting into quality) for anyone let alone one reliever?
@ Cosmo2
Mauricio has a poor hit tool, and Suarez is recovering from TJ, so no thanks on the prospects.
Stearns has repeatedly said he has no intentions of trading Hader because of his immense value to the team. The Brewers play tons of close games and Hader is a big reason why the team has consistently won those games.
THAT is one terrible trade for the Mets! Davis, Smith, Mauricio, Suarez AND a pick? What you couldn’t actually include the kitchen sink?
I’m kind of surprised the Yankees aren’t checking him out.
I mean they already have Holmes.
It’s seems elementary.
Well done, that was splendid
I still think that is topped by the Mets having a bench coach named Glenn Sherlock.
Would be a great fit for jays.
I actually enjoyed Watson in Pittsburgh. I am glad he is still around and still a solid arm from the pen. Sad he hasn’t won a World Series yet. Rays, Yankees, Dodgers, Brewers, are just a few who should contact this guy
it’s not deep in the off-season anymore.
I keep bumpin my boy, but Szapucki at one point during this season will be pitching out of the pen in Queens and I bet he does a pretty decent job.
Still… it would be highly advisable to sign Watson, who is steady as a rock. That could probably be said for pretty much every team in the majors, though. He’s a great guy to have on any roster.
Maybe Al is too rural? Everytime we mention trade chips he thinks we’re looking for mushrooms or something?
Maybe Al is too much of a 70’s child? Everytime we mention trade chips he is afraid Erika Estrada, Ponch, will pull him over or something?
Maybe Al is too busy dieting? Everytime we mention trade chips, he’s thinking Lays and knowing nobody can eat just one……
It must be something. Maybe he is afraid of computers? Maybe afraid of a gambling addiction?
It must be something because we have had ZERO trade chips since 2015.