Jacob deGrom and Taijuan Walker are both headed to the free agent market, according to a media release from the MLB Players Association (via Twitter). As expected, deGrom opted out of the final guaranteed year of his contract, while Walker took a $3MM buyout rather than exercise a $7.5MM player option for the 2023 season.
deGrom was owed $30.5MM in 2023, and the Mets held a $32.5MM club option on the former two-time Cy Young Award winner for 2024. There is no doubt deGrom will find more than $30.5MM on the open market, as his skill level still supersedes some obvious questions about his health and long-term durability. Multiple injuries kept deGrom on the shelf for over an entire year, as he didn’t make a single MLB appearance between July 7, 2021 and August 2, 2022. Upon returning this season, deGrom still looked tremendous, posting a 3.08 ERA and a host of elite Statcast numbers.
Throughout his injury hiatus, deGrom consistently maintained that he still planned to opt out of his contract, and his strong performance over his 64 1/3 innings should quell doubts in the minds of some suitors. Of course, deGrom also turns 35 in June 2023, so there has been speculation that teams might prefer to offer him deals with a high average annual value rather than a lengthy term. Reports have also suggested that geography is a factor for deGrom, as his preference would be to play for a team closer to his home in Florida.
During the 2020-21 offseason, Walker joined the Mets on a two-year deal worth $20MM in guaranteed salary. Given the high price of his buyout, Walker’s $4.5MM decision wasn’t a hard one to make, as the right-hander will look to capitalize on what has now been three consecutive seasons of solid work. The 30-year-old isn’t a big strikeout pitcher and he allows a lot of hard contact, though he’ll get plenty of attention as a solid arm for the middle-to-back of many rotations.
Walker missed almost all of the 2018 and 2019 seasons due to Tommy John surgery and a shoulder injury, before rebounding with a 2.70 ERA over 53 1/3 innings with the Mariners and Blue Jays during the shortened 2020 season. That performance led to Walker’s contract with New York, and he has stayed mostly healthy (averaging 158 IP) over his two seasons with the Mets while posting a 3.98 ERA. 2022 was the better of Walker’s two seasons, as he had a 3.49 ERA and an above-average 6.9% walk rate.
Between deGrom, Walker, Chris Bassitt expected to decline his end of a mutual option, and the Mets holding a $14MM club option on Carlos Carrasco for 2023, New York’s rotation could look quite different by Opening Day. Even with the Mets’ willingness to spend big, retaining all of these starters might even be beyond ownership’s comfort zone, especially with other free agent questions left to be answered. The Mets already made one big strike to re-sign an in-house free agent, agreeing to a five-year, $102MM deal with closer Edwin Diaz yesterday.
Good choice, especially after seeing how much the Mets will pay a player they want to retain
Good choice
Good choice, especially if you’re a player the Mets want to retain.
Was this a good choice?
DeGrom to the Cardinals with his buddy Matz.
Guess we will see how bad the Mets want to keep him. Is he worth Scherzer money? Prob not. Will he get it? Maybe.
Healthy DeGrom is worth Scherzer money but that there lies the problem. Health.
They should pay DeGrom per start.
I like that idea, but of course, it’ll never happen. As a fun thought experiment, what do you think the per-start cost would be? $1M? $1.5M?
Per start? No way he would go for less than 2-3 million per. 1M per start is less than he’d get per year if he never missed a start.
So you are saying he should get paid almost $100Mil per year? 33 starts at $3Mil per start … Hahaha
Degrom has started 33 games exactly…0 times.
If you were to get him on a $/start amount, you’d definitely be paying around that amount because it’d significantly lower the risk for the team.
If Degrom is starting 33 games, you’re probably gonna get 5-8 fWAR from him. Considering you wouldn’t have the risk of injury or a long term commitment, I think he’d absolutely get 2-3m/start from at least 1 team.
Lol at 2-3MM per start Degrom would take it. 40-60MM for 20 starts?
I’m sure he’d take the injury risk for that reward.
He’s likely looking at $40m fully guaranteed over multiple years right now.
No im not saying that at all. Try to follow along. Its what he would accept IF he were to agree to being paid per start. One million per start is LESS than he would get if he pitched a full season on a guaranteed contract. So he’s OBVIOUSLY going to want more. Try actually comprehending the discussion before you hahaha like a little girl.
Point is why would he agree to get paid per start if it meant less than he’d get otherwise. No brainer he’s getting at least 25-30 a year. No doubt. So if the and he don’t think he’ll pitch a full season, then…. I think these concepts might be over your head.
Based on what I’ve seen, expecting the commenters on here to have an understanding of even basic economics is asking way too much. I guess that’s a side effect of the poor education system and demographic of those that comment on here.
He’s started 30+ games four times so don’t try to make it sound like 33 was so far fetched
It’s well known he wants to break scherzers AAV… idk if he will considering he missed 60% of the last two years, but he seems to be betting on himself
Good luck bc I don’t think the Mets will pay that
Right. And 33 starts isn’t the expectation for ANY pitcher these days snyway.
If deGrom tops 2/$63, he comes out ahead. He’s going top that easily.
Where do you think he’ll end up? I think a team may be willing to do 2/90 just bc the upside is huge
2/90 seems about right but he’ll probably want to go for more guaranteed money.
I’m just not seeing it… missed 60% of the last two years and I don’t see that improving much in his mid 30s… but I guess all it takes is one team to bite
3/60, with a $1.5m incentive per start over 14. If he gets to 30, he overtakes Scherzer.
Jays should get Walker again.
That could be a possibility. I imagine he will be looked at by many team. I see a 4/72 million contract for him.
If he plays out that contract healthy than that team will reap the benefits
If he gets 4/72 he should be convicted for theft
Need to wake up and realize that the deGrom we once knew does not exist anymore.
He’s as good as he’s ever been, but the multitude of injuries that seem to overlap these days prevents him from performing to his capabilities. And for that reason, as Mark Cuban would say, I’m out.
I wouldn’t mind taking a look at Walker as a potential replacement for Taillon. Walker is younger and has a better track record
I see no evidence of that at all. He a tiny amount of less than dominant starts at the end.
You think he’s gonna get up to 200 innings again? I don’t. I’d agree that the degrom that makes 30 starts and gets around 200 IP is gone.
deGrom can make 30 starts and get around 200 IP, but it’ll take him two seasons to do it.
I see no reason to think 200 innings isn’t a possibility. It’s a risk, but he could do it.
I mean, lots of things are possible, that doesn’t mean I think they’ll happen. I The mets winning the world series in 2023 is a possibility, I’d still bet the field vs. them (just like I would for every team).
There’s a difference between something being possible and and something being at all likely to occur. There are plenty of reasons to believe it’s unlikely he’ll go back to doing that. Until he does it, I’ll continue to believe that degrom is gone.
But very few players ever pitch 200 innings. So if its even a thought of possibility for deGrom then whats the problem?
@Cosmo2 at $40M per year, outside of the Mets and Dodgers (and I hope LA is not interested) which teams are going to risk it? I don’t think many. Think Phillies, yeah, deGrom could take them next level, but isn’t it a much safer and equally as effective to spend that money on Trea Turner and Chris Bassitt? Or Dodgers Bogaerts and Rodon or Giants Aaron Judge and hmmm yeah just Aaron Judge.
What team is EVER willing to risk that big money? Its always limited to a handful of big spenders.
You have to realize that 2022 was essentially deGrom’s Spring Training. He was never fully stretched out. We don’t know if there’s a real decline. He looked pretty good to me. With a proper spring training, we may see a few seasons of vintage deGrom.
@VonPurpleHayes…Agreed. A lot of people said similar things when Wheeler signed his deal. Saying “It was an overpay”. I tune them out.
This is the way I see it.
If Bauer got +40 mil per year with his risks.
Jacob gets + 40mil. per year with his.
@Hantoneenee, what risks were there with Bauer when he signed? He was healthy, coming off a great year. I thought all his troubles came well into his first season of his contract.
Bauer was a well known headcase long before he signed with LA.
Wheeler was going into his age 30 season, Degrom is going into his age 35 season, that’s a pretty big difference. I agree that he’ll probably get 40m/yr if he’s willing to go short term, I disagree that we’ll see a few seasons of vintage degrom.
@WampunWalloper As Cosmo stated, a head case. A great half season coming against mostly below .500 teams, mostly with losing records. I’d take my chances with the risk of injuries with Jake any day.
@ 1984wasntamanual
All I’m saying is the NYM’s made that bed when they offered Bauer the + 40 mil contract. How many years he’ll get is 1 thing but, I’m sure he’s looking for at least what Bauer was offered from the Mets. Personally, I’d still bet on DeGrom.
Right, shouldn’t pay players from past experiences, but for future healthy ones
Here he comes … DeGrom to the Braves! Come on bravos! Make it happen!! The money is there!!
no. better on grienke.
they sign de – inured and he makes one start and gets injured all year.
Walker is far more realistic.
I don’t see the Braves paying the $40M+ AAV that deGrom will get.
No one is paying deGrom $40+m. No one. Not even the Rockies.
“The money is there!!”
Is it? With Arb increases, payroll is already approaching $200 million. Dropping another $40+ million on deGrom seems way out of character. Plus, they’ll either need to push for Swanson or replace him with someone else.
Good choice, especially when you’re a player the Mets want to retain.
Everyone has money.
Curious to see how much guaranteed money deGrom pulls given the perception he may be injury prone or lack stamina to pitch through a 162 game season and postseason.
I am assuming he’ll get a deal similar to Scherzer’s.
“The perception”???
If deGrom gets a 3 year deal it will be for his age 35, 36 and 37 seasons. Yes there are Scherzers that in 2022 put up a 5.3 WAR and 169 ERA+ in his age 37 season, but they are few. Scherzer got paid $112M for his age 35-37 seasons and has another $86M coming to him in his age 38-39 seasons. If deGrom truly wants Scherzer money, then his wish is 5 years $198M
Walker and deGrom did the opt-out when they found out Edwin Diaz was getting all that stupid money.
LOLmets endures.
Youre really stretching it just so you can say “lol Mets”. They were opting out anyway.
Cosmo2, I’ve always found you to be rational when it comes to your Mets, and I agree with you on the opt-outs. They were coming anyway.
I do think the Diaz re-signing was an LOLMets moment, though a different kind…with money. The Mets were clearly bidding against themselves in this case, and for a guy who has teetered between elite and pretty good, with one really awful year thrown in,
I don’t question the signing itself, but a more savvy front office would have let him test the market to determine his price. My guess is, he winds up somewhere around Kenley Jansesn’s 2017-2021 contract, based on his age and upside.
Still, not my money, but just an observation.
@ AshamedMethGoat Perhaps a savy organization: 1. prioritizes their needs based on their ability to fill the needs from all sources, 2. resolves their top priority immediately so that they may eliminate delay and uncertainty as well as move on to the next priority. Eh?
His price could’ve very well went up if he had tested the market.
I disagree. You don’t let a guy like that hear any other offer.
Mariano got $15M per for 4 years in his mid 30’s…15 years ago. Granted Diaz isn’t Mariano, but for $5M more per year 15 years later at the age of 28 isn’t a bad deal for the Mets after the season he put up. Can always look at it from the perspective that the Mets got one hell of a deal last year and are rewarding him by filling the gap he performed at vs what he received. His motion is effortless as well, which makes me believe his production should be sustainable for the duration of the contract if not misused.
LOLChucky! Diaz got exactly what was predicted. How would that impact their decision?
Everyone knows relievers with big contracts end up crapping the bed for one reason or another.
It was also LOLmets for the Diaz contract to be made public in the middle of an NFL Sunday.
I know that predictions were that he could get to 5/100 and I figured that some team would be dumb enough to pay him that much, but I didn’t think he’d get the NTC and opt out thrown in as well.
Same. I suppose if you’re going with a $300m payroll every year, it almost eliminates the need or possibility or value of trading him. If he’s good, of course you want him. If he’s bad you won’t be selling low. If he’s ordinary, you’ll hope for a rebound and, again, won’t be selling low.
The opt-out def seems strange. I suppose Cohen’s FO may figure that if he’s good enough to opt out the Mets will simply extend him, failing to recognize the difference b/t age 29-33 seasons for relievers, and age 32-36 seasons.
Walker was a zero percent chance of opting in. He got a $3 million buyout, so all he would need to do is get a contract bigger than $4.5 million to best the $7.5 million the Mets would have paid him. imo, he’ll get over $10 million on a two or three year deal. It’s a no brainer for him.
He’ll take the deal that isn’t incentive based – i.e. base + games started, innings pitched, etc.
Walker should top 30mil easily.
LOL
Is that what 5 inning pitchers are getting?
Every time I watch that guy he’ll be sailing for 4-5 innings then…….
I look for the Mets to trade for Zach Plesac and/or Aaron Civale of the Guardians. Maybe they can clean them up and get 5 innings out of them. Be a lot less expensive.
Is that what 5 inning pitchers are getting?
=======================
Yes. He averaged 5.42/GS. The NL averaged 5.22/GS. That’s the nature of the game today. I’d agree that something closer to 5.75-6.00/GS would be preferable, but this is a case of preferring quality over quantity.
@Joe Brady, yeah, it’s interesting to see those numbers and couple it with a quote from Scherzer at some point this past season that is was his job to go 7. At the moment it took me by surprise but in todays game, an average SP goes 5 and an ace of staff goes 7. Let’s face it, deGrom only has 4 complete games and 2 shutouts in his entire career.
oeBrady;
$30m?
And Joe – overall statistics misrepresent.
Here’s the thing – if a starting pitcher is only going through the oppositions line-up 2 times it puts tremendous pressure on the bullpen. When a team has to use 3-5 bullpen pitchers in a game there’s a very good chance that at least one of those guys doesn’t have it that day – and turning a game is what it’s all about. Additionally, there are only so many innings and appearances a bullpen pitcher can make each week.
If he’s pitching more innings than your average big league starter it’s not really crazy to think he gets a deal above 30MM.
That’s right in line with what Kyle Gibson got a couple years ago. 3/36 is attainable for Walker.
Mets should try to do what you said with a comparable cheaper option though.
@JoeBrady Walker should be considered a 100-110 inning pitcher. The Mets have used him foolishly.
Assuming he did not mean $30m/yr; then yeah. Have you seen FA pitcher contracts the last few years? A guy that’s going into his age 30 season and is a 2ish fwar guy will get a guarantee around $30m without too much trouble.
He got 20 million for 2 years with a lesser track record than he has now; so 30 million for 3 years hardly seems out of the question (especially when you consider he’s only going into his age 30 season).
“There is no doubt deGrom will find more than $30.5MM on the open market, as his skill level still supersedes some obvious questions about his health and long-term durability.”
Does it though? I don’t consider this a slam dunk at all. At his age, healing takes longer than when he was in his 20’s. If the team buys insurance against another injury, they can recoup some of the financial loss. But having a starter on the shelf would still be a serious problem from a competitive standpoint.
He’s so good when he’s healthy, the appeal is obvious and tantalizing. But, IMO, it doesn’t supersede the questions about his health. They loom large.
30.5 supersedes health concerns. 40 or more than five years doesn’t.
Cosmo, Fangraphs puts deGrom’s 2022 WAR dollar value at a little over half that: $17.5M. And that seems to me inflated, given that they gave Houston’s Luis Garcia a WAR dollar value of only $16.6M although he pitched 28 games to deGrom’s 11 and won 15 games to deGrom’s 5 wins.
To my mind, expecting deGrom to age like Nolan Ryan is a dubious expectation.
Fangraphs is not at all a reliable resource for what teams are willing to pay. Hes like two seconds removed from being the best pitcher in baseball. And teams ALWAYS hand out these contracts as if the player is going to age in 99th percentile.
He’s even less removed from losing three of his last five regular season games, the last of which losses put the Braves in a tie with the Mets for first place in the division.
Teams aren’t gonna pay him significantly less based on 5 starts and certainly not gonna care about the team’s position in the standings when it comes to paying him. Anyone tries to offer him less than 25 million a year is going to get laughed at. Look at the market.
Cosmo, I’m not arguing that he won’t get big money. I’m just questioning the wisdom of it.
If he signs with the Yankees, I’ll have mixed emotions.
When they acquired Stanton, coming off his MVP season, my initial reaction was enthusiastic. Wow! Fifty-nine home runs!
Then he got injured. Again and again. Now I view the contract Cashman took on as a roster-limiting albatross.
I’d fear the same result if they signed deGrom.
And he might be healthy and great for some other team instead. But I won’t revise history at that point and pretend I had no misgivings about signing him.
I think you touch on a good point without mentioning it specifically….there is a difference between what someone will get on the market and what the expected value is that person will provide, especially when using publicly available value calculations.
I don’t doubt that degrom will get ~40m/yr for a couple years. I do have some doubts that he’ll provide that much value for the team that signs him.
Ok sure. He’ll get the money. Whether its smart to do so is a valid question. I see what you’re saying.
@Fink Ployed Best comment on deGrom thus far.
Mets shopping list:
Rondon, Tailon, Bieber (via trade – prospect overpay), Montero, Ottavino. Turner and Rizzo on offense (Alonso at DH and the occasional game on the field). Get the big two FAs in Rondon and Turner as opposed to resigning DeGrom and what would most likely be another anyway. Turner can play CF. Rotation of Scherzer, Rondon, Bieber, Tailon, Peterson or Megil should be enough and a bit younger than last year. The field would have enough players to back each other up along with improved speed and defense. DeGrom, Bassett, Walker, Carasco would be gone along with the majority of the bullpen. Toss Nimmo in there and I’d say the spending is close, and if more, they intended to do so anyway.
As a fan, I would love that. But realistically, that team would cost like $350-400 million. I don’t see Cohen doing that.
Would be a $50M increase vs what’s going out the door.
Montero? That would be weird. Rizzo? Why? They have enough 1B/DH guys. No reason to overpay Rizzo. Hes the last thing they need. And they need a lot. First baseman coning off a year he most likely won’t duplicate is definitely not one of them. Only so much to spend, even for Cohen.
Alonso lost a couple of games last year due to his defense. Love his effort, but Rizzo is a vacuum and solid clubhouse contributor (not to mention a good left handed bat in the lineup). Alonso needs to slot in at DH. Volg is a solid LH pinch hitter at best, and at 1.5M, that’s lunch money for Cohen.
Only so many DHs you can have. Rizzo just isnt a need. They need that money for a ton of other things.
If you think Rizzo is better on defense than Alonso, it’s time for your bath.
If you think either is worth defending about their defense, you need a new prescription of glasses.
If you think that’s what my comment is about, you need a Reading 101 tutor.
If you weren’t defending Alonso’s defense, then you need a writing tutor.
So Strasburg I mean deGrom is headed to FA. Will be fun to watch the bidding for the massive overpay in the coming months!
@AgeeHarrelsonJones Do you make deGrom an offer, at all, if you’re the Mets FO?
Fwiw I might go as high as 3/60m with a 950k incentive for every start over 15.
If the injuries never really improve, I can’t be betting my seasons on the dead tendon in his arm that is long past the TJ guarantee of around 8 years. I can’t be burying 45m in payroll for 2023-25 by giving deGrom that much, even with a $300m payroll. It has to be a number I can live with each year if he can’t pitch much—or at all.
If the Mets don’t do it, someone like the Rangers will.
Yes, I smell the Rangers in here.
I’m Shocked I tell you. DeGrom has been telling anyone who’ll listen that he was opting out all year even when he wasn ‘t pitching due him being on the IL. He wants a Max Deal at least.
@padam interesting take, how many teams that win over 100 games in a season turn over 3 rotation members and 2 top/middle of the order bats for the following season? Have any? I suspect Bassitt will be back and maybe even Carasco or Walker. Be interesting if the Phillies make a run at Bassitt, he would be a great #4 for them. Rizzo regressed in the field last year, Alonso and Rizzo had identical -1.1 dWAR’s and Alonso was actually better in DRS -3 to Rizzo’s -4
@WampumWalloper If you mean the Mets, who’s the second top / middle of the order bat?
The number of $300m payroll teams with this problem in past seasons, to give as precedent, is… zero. Figure the Mets payroll, with Diaz and all the arb guys and committed contracts is $208m for 17 players incl Carrasco. Add the following, by AAV:
Nimmo $23m
Rodon $25m
#2-3 $17m
Bullpen, 4th OFer $25m
That gets you to $298m. So it’s doable for under $300m. Cohen has implied he’s willing to go that high, but seems to not want to break that mark. If so, the Mets can put a better team than last year’s on the field for a similar price.
Losing deGrom actually makes them better, though they’re going to need a FO better than one led by Eppler to pull it off, especially since pitching is the main need. Cheers,
Too many 1st baseman/DHs. Too many. And it’s Rizzo’s money I’m concerned with, obviously not Vogelbachs. Its just nowhere near an actual need for them team, wastes money on a player unlikely to duplicate last year and kills bench flexibility unnecessarily. And no way Alonso gave up two games on defense. I don’t even think that’s possible for a first baseman.
You’ll never convince Red Sox fans that a first baseman can’t be responsible for losing a game. (They’re still wrong, btw — Buckner didn’t lose that game by himself.)
Mets need to fill 3 rotation spots, cf/rf, bullpen, and bench. Their ability to perform such a task will depend heavily on payroll approved for the 2023 season.
With the Mets likely 220 mil in payroll (after Carasco option pickup, non-tender Dominic Smith, and arbitration salaries), the Mets will need to allocate 20 million for the bullpen and bench. 240 million payroll leaves only 40 million before matching 2022 payroll.
That leaves 3 rotation spots and cf/rf to fill.
With resigning Nimmo supposedly a priority, the Mets will only have 20 mil to fill 3 rotation spots before surpassing this year’s payroll.
If deGrom is resigned, Mets will probably have no choice but to rely on the likes of Peterson, Megill, Lucchesi, etc to fill the 4th and 5th spot in the rotation.
If deGrom is not resigned, Mets might be able to sign two good starters then rely on the mentioned options for the 5th spot in the rotation.
@NYMETSHEA Just an FYI, wrt the money, with Diaz and Carrasco, and with the arb group, cutting Dom, you’re around $208m.
Add Rodon at 25m, a #2/3 SP for 17m, Nimmo at 23m, and a bullpen and 4th OFer for 25m, and you’re 2m below the 300m Cohen strongly implied in the Post he was willing to bump up against. That might be a better team than this season’s as you’re not dependent on deGrom’s health, you’re not dependent on a group of pitchers NONE of whom were reliable at the end of the previous season, you’ve got Lucchesi back, you have Peterson turning into a much superior pitcher, each of Alvarez, Baty, and Vientos is closer to the majors, and you know to treat Scherzer as a Sunday Pitcher, giving him 5 days rest throughout the season, if not 6 days rest.
Despite this, I have no faith in a FO led by Eppler, particularly not when the main voices behind him will be Alderson & Son. Even at $298 million they’re going to have to get it all right, and these aren’t the guys who can do that.
Wouldn’t be shocked if the Mets go after Verlander to replace deGrom.
Johnnymarty95 His age 39 season, one of the best in MLB history, makes me wonder whether Verlander got an artificial super-ligament to replace the torn one.
I’d love an ace you can bank on getting 30 starts from, but this doesn’t seem like the season for that. So… Verlander for 2/80m, figure on getting 45-50 starts over the next 2 seasons, look to fill in the bottom of the rotation with Megill, Peterson, Lucchesi, and… Carrasco? Walker? Someone who can at least keep you in games and keep you from giving starts to Jerad Eickhof… Trevor Williams back for 2/12m, perhaps? Willilams is a good fit as a swingman on a team that will offer numerous opportunities to go 2-3 innings, and spot start whenever its iffy starters can’t go.
I’d go after Rodon, durable and consistent lefty and see what else is promising out there, look what happened to deGrom in Oakland, looked like his skill set is declining, may be too many 100 mph fastballs. I would want a complete physical exam on him before paying him the big bucks.
@Tomas7 Well, except Rodin’s not durable, he’s not consistent, he’s only had the one good season, one season that’s at all above average, pitching more than 140 innings. So you’re paying for a career year for a guy who’s going to be 30, who has never pitched like this before (or before 2021, depending how you look at it), and will be looking for at least 4/$100m.
The way mega deals for starting pitchers in the NL East have gone there’s no way this doesn’t work out well for the Mets if they resign him.
Degrom 2/80 mil
Hey I want to talk about getting all these high priced players for a while. Can you Mets fans loan Steve to the Reds for just a day? What a great feeling it must be.
Johnnymarty95 His age 39 season, one of the best in MLB history, makes me wonder whether Verlander got an artificial super-ligament to replace the torn one.
I’d love an ace you can bank on getting 30 starts from, but this doesn’t seem like the season for that. So… Verlander for 2/80m, figure on getting 45-50 starts over the next 2 seasons, look to fill in the bottom of the rotation with Megill, Peterson, Lucchesi, and… Carrasco? Walker? Someone who can at least keep you in games and keep you from giving starts to Jerad Eickhof… Trevor Williams back for 2/12m, perhaps? Willilams is on a good fit as a swingman on a team that will offer numerous opportunities to go 2-3 innings, and spot start whenever its iffy starters can’t go.