Headlines

  • Orioles Fire Manager Brandon Hyde
  • Ben Joyce Undergoes Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
  • Dodgers Promote Dalton Rushing, Designate Austin Barnes For Assignment
  • Major League Baseball Rules That Permanent Ineligibility Ends At Death
  • Rangers Place Corey Seager On Injured List
  • Cubs Promote Moises Ballesteros
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Seth Lugo Drawing Interest As Starter

By Steve Adams | November 14, 2022 at 12:09pm CDT

Right-hander Seth Lugo reached free agency for the first time in his career last week and has already drawn plenty of early interest as teams begin charting their offseason gameplan. Will Sammon of The Athletic reports that more than a dozen teams — but not the Mets, yet — have reached out to Lugo. That shouldn’t be surprising for a consistently solid setup man, but what’s more interesting is Sammon’s note that some of those clubs have expressed interest in putting Lugo back into a rotation.

Lugo, 33 this week, has bounced between the Mets’ rotation and bullpen at various times in his career but has been a full-time reliever in each of the past two seasons. In that time, Lugo sports a 3.56 ERA with a sharp 26.6% strikeout rate, a 7.9% walk rate and a 44% ground-ball rate. He’s averaged 94.4 mph on his heater in that time, and Lugo regularly sits near or at the very top of leaderboards for the spin rate on his curveball. Since 2018, FanGraphs’ run values peg Lugo’s fastball as the fifth-most valuable four-seamer among 279 qualified relievers; his curveball ranks seventh, just behind Ryan Pressly.

Generally speaking, Lugo has been a quietly effective member of the Mets’ bullpen for the bulk of his time as a reliever. In exactly 300 career innings out of the bullpen, the right-hander’s ERA sits at 2.91. He’s fanned 27.9% of his opponents and walked 6.9% of them, relying primarily on that fastball/curveball pairing but also mixing in a sinker, occasional slider and a very seldom used changeup (which has been particularly rare in recent seasons).

That mix of four to five pitches, however, is likely what gives some teams the belief that Lugo could find success in a return to a lengthier role. It’s also worth pointing out that while Lugo struggled immensely as a starter in 2020, his overall body of work coming out of the rotation is solid. He’s thrown 194 innings as a starting pitcher in the Majors and pitched to a 4.35 ERA in that time. His  20.9% strikeout rate as a starting pitcher is far lower than his 27.9% mark out of the ’pen, but his 6.3% walk rate is slightly better than his 6.9% rate as a reliever.

Lugo might’ve stuck in the Mets’ rotation for the long haul were it not for some health issues that cropped up early in his big league tenure. Most notably, he was diagnosed with a “slight” tear in his right elbow’s ulnar collateral ligament back in 2017. Any tearing of the UCL, even in minor cases, leads to fear of Tommy John surgery. However, Lugo received a platelet-rich plasma injection in the elbow at the time, opted for rest and rehab rather than surgery, and has not incurred subsequent issues with his elbow ligament. Even in 2021, when he underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow, Lugo indicated that upon examining the MRI results to diagnose the spur, his surgeon “was really impressed with how [the UCL] wound up” (link via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo).

Lugo tossed just 65 innings in 2022 and has a career-high of 101 1/3 innings pitched — a total he reached in both 2017 and in 2018. As such, it’s fair to question just what type of workload he might be able to build up to in 2023 if he indeed opts to sign as a starting pitcher. That said, there are surely plenty of teams also eyeing Lugo in what has become his traditional late-inning setup role — one in which he’s thrived over the past several years. Interest as a starter could well prove to be a moot point, but it’s a good reminder of the outside-the-box approach that a number of clubs will take when it comes to building out their rotations.

Share 0 Retweet 13 Send via email0

New York Mets Seth Lugo

Royals Hire Paul Hoover As Bench Coach
Main
Martin Perez Leaning Toward Accepting Qualifying Offer
View Comments (43)
Post a Comment

43 Comments

  1. dugmet

    3 years ago

    I am tired of his “stutter foot”. Just plant it and throw already!

    Reply
    • Edp007

      3 years ago

      Lugo my Lego please

      Reply
    • DaOldDerbyBastard

      3 years ago

      Glad to have the perspective of such a well respected pitching coach.

      Reply
    • Deadguy

      3 years ago

      Lol Mets hired Jeff Albert to be director of hitting! Oh boy wait till he gets ahold of some of that NY social media heat when Mets start taking fastballs right down the middle

      Reply
  2. 10centBeerNight

    3 years ago

    For NL east fans who have watched him over last few years – confident in saying “Not a good idea”

    4
    Reply
  3. jyosuckas

    3 years ago

    He had early success as a starter but once teams figured him out he couldn’t make it through the lineup a 3rd time

    2
    Reply
    • Baseball Babe

      3 years ago

      Who can these days aside from about 10 guys?

      3
      Reply
    • BaloniusFunk

      3 years ago

      As is the case with many starting pitchers…

      1
      Reply
    • gmenfan

      3 years ago

      “So, what’s wrong with that?” – Alex Wood

      Reply
  4. LongTimeFan1

    3 years ago

    He made clear as a Met he wants to be starter and now he may get his chance. But interested teams should be aware he’s ho-hum back end. Lineups figure him out the more they face him. If I correctly recall his stuff erodes.

    1
    Reply
    • VonPurpleHayes

      3 years ago

      Keep in mind he was in the NL East consistently facing elite lineups with the Phillies, Braves and Nationals (a 2021 and earlier). I think Lugo is very solid, and will excel in another division.

      4
      Reply
      • LongTimeFan1

        3 years ago

        @VonPurple

        The 2023 schedule is reducing intra-division play and increasing league play for greater balance.

        1
        Reply
        • VonPurpleHayes

          3 years ago

          Yes. Good point. So staying in the NLE won’t even matter.

          Tangential point: I don’t understand the point of divisions if in-division teams aren’t playing each other more. If you’re going for a balanced schedule, why not do away with divisions entirely and just go by best overall records?

          4
          Reply
        • Edp007

          3 years ago

          What’s the point of two leagues. ? Two mvp’s ? Two CY’s Etc. They are just conference awards.
          Can u imagine nfl giving two mvps ? NHL ? NBA? No , all one league of 30/32 teams.

          Reply
        • LongTimeFan1

          3 years ago

          @VonPurple

          These changes are more about league than division….increasing league-wide head to head. There hasn’t been enough intra-league play for some time. There used to be far better balance when teams played 12 games each against division foes and 9 each against the remaining league foes. Interleague play has cut into that. So for instance, and NL team competing in NL for postseason berth play some AL teams as many times as they do NL. That’s whats been needing fixing.

          Reply
        • VonPurpleHayes

          3 years ago

          I get that. And it’s nice that teams in weaker division won’t get to coast as much, but. that theory is out the window when division standings still matter. Theoretically if a really poor division has a 70 game winner, that team still gets to the playoffs with homefield advantage in the first round. I understand that when schedules aren’t balanced, but since they are in 2023,I feel like divisions should go away. Take the best records in each league. Done. Why do we arbitrarily count divisions now (with 2023’s schedule)? I don’t get it.

          Reply
        • SonnySteele

          3 years ago

          You lost me with the fourth sentence, LongTimeFan1

          Reply
  5. Samuel

    3 years ago

    He’s this years Michael Lorenzen.

    Don’t blame him for wanting to start, but his value is in the bullpen.

    6
    Reply
    • Ma4170

      3 years ago

      Agreed… like Lugo a lot, but the value is definitely RP over SP

      1
      Reply
    • HalosHeavenJJ

      3 years ago

      My thoughts exactly.

      Which means I should start an “Angels Sign Lugo” piece now.

      1
      Reply
    • Larry Brown's crank

      3 years ago

      sam…I thought of the exact same name.

      Reply
    • SonnySteele

      3 years ago

      It seems to me that pitchers go from starter to reliever more often than the other way around. Can y’all name any past relievers who became starters?

      Reply
      • Ma4170

        3 years ago

        Off the top of my head only ones that come to mind are SP prospects being brought up as RP before starting, like Chris sale. I’m sure there are many who’ve made the transition, but I’m blanking right now. Christian Javier? But I think that’s same situation as sale.

        Reply
        • fivepoundbass

          3 years ago

          Yep, I can’t think of any making that move late in their career

          Reply
      • Samuel

        3 years ago

        rodcannon;

        Not for decades……

        Up until sometime in the 70’s most starting pitchers were broken in by pitching long relief in the bullpen, then moving into a starting role if they did well and one of the starters was either faltering or injured.

        But with the move to most relief pitchers only throwing one inning – or two at the most – it’s next to impossible to move a pitcher from a relief role to a starting one. “Stretching him out” would be the buzzwords.

        Reply
  6. Attystephenadams

    3 years ago

    He’s good, but not the dominant reliever he once was. And he really can’t pitch on consecutive days.. If you convert him back to a starter he may be good for 4 innings. He’s more of an opener. But I would take him back on the Mets as a reliever when you look at who else is out there.

    2
    Reply
  7. LFGMets (Metsin7)

    3 years ago

    Hasn’t been the same since his tear. He really isn’t that good. Has a good curve ball but he losses the strikezone a lot. Hes more of a back-end reliever if anything. His stats are very misleading. Hes the type of reliever that when hes not on his game, he implodes

    1
    Reply
    • VonPurpleHayes

      3 years ago

      That’s essentially every reliever ever.

      3
      Reply
      • LFGMets (Metsin7)

        3 years ago

        Incorrect, theres plenty of relievers that when they do bad, they only give up one run. Seth Lugo will give up 4-5 runs when hes doing bad. Hes good in low leverage situations. He walks everyone in high leverage situations

        1
        Reply
        • VonPurpleHayes

          3 years ago

          Interesting. Stats don’t really point this out, but as a Mets fan you definitely have a better feel for the situation than I do. My overall point about relievers is that they’re extremely volatile. Outside of a few elite closers, most of them tend to get crushed from time to time.

          1
          Reply
        • myaccount2

          3 years ago

          @LFGMets- His game log doesn’t reflect what you’re claiming. Lugo didn’t give up 4+ earned runs in a single outing all last season nor did he allow 4+ runs via inherited runners. He only allowed 3 runs *once* all last season but I will concede that all 3 were earned. He gave up 2 runs in a game in only 9 of 62 appearances, meaning only 10 of his 62 appearances (16%) resulted in 2+ runs. Not that inconsistent for a reliever.

          2
          Reply
        • DaOldDerbyBastard

          3 years ago

          He hates the Mets.

          Reply
        • LFGMets (Metsin7)

          3 years ago

          @myaccounts2 He gave up a grandslam at the game I went to vs the Marlins, they were Bassit’s runners, first batter was encarcion and Lugo threw a pitch right down the middle, nice try

          Reply
        • mookie1

          3 years ago

          @LFGMets

          Anecdotal evidence, the best kind. That’s the kind of comment that reflects poorly on all of us Mets fans. Lugo is good, but not great. All the teams in MLB would want him on their staff for the right price.

          1
          Reply
        • myaccount2

          3 years ago

          Interesting. Not sure why that isn’t reflected. Alas, he had an 80% strand rate. So if the numbers are mixed up and he gave up 3+ runs twice in 62 outings, it still doesn’t exactly prove your point.

          Reply
  8. HBan22

    3 years ago

    He has been so much better as a reliever throughout his career. I think any team planning to use him as a starter will be disappointed, especially at his age.

    Reply
    • SonnySteele

      3 years ago

      It would be funny if a team signs Lugo as a starter but only uses him as an opener.

      Didn’t read the fine print? Too bad.

      Reply
  9. greatgame 2

    3 years ago

    A 34th round 2011 pick and has made $9+M. Gotta be a record

    Reply
  10. DarkSide830

    3 years ago

    Just another Strahm or Lorenzen. Sometimes you’re just a RP.

    1
    Reply
  11. slimmycito

    3 years ago

    Has Shatkins written all over him. Probably their top target tbh.

    Reply
  12. Camden453

    3 years ago

    lmao the Mets tried that and it did not go well

    Reply
  13. Orioles2024

    3 years ago

    Relievers are getting paid.

    Take the reliever cash!

    Reply
  14. Bill M

    3 years ago

    He’s not a starter. Back end, rear end, any end, doesn’t matter. He’s a pretty solid reliever though and if the Mets don’t re-sign him, they’ll need to find someone to replace him. Lots of holes to fill on that team

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Orioles Fire Manager Brandon Hyde

    Ben Joyce Undergoes Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery

    Dodgers Promote Dalton Rushing, Designate Austin Barnes For Assignment

    Major League Baseball Rules That Permanent Ineligibility Ends At Death

    Rangers Place Corey Seager On Injured List

    Cubs Promote Moises Ballesteros

    Evan Longoria To Sign One-Day Contract, Retire As Member Of Rays

    Diamondbacks To Promote Jordan Lawlar

    Rockies Fire Bud Black

    Cubs Promote Cade Horton

    Rafael Devers Unwilling To Play First Base

    Pirates Fire Manager Derek Shelton

    Mariners Claim Leody Taveras

    Rangers Hire Bret Boone As Hitting Coach

    A.J. Minter To Undergo Season-Ending Lat Surgery

    Blue Jays Sign Spencer Turnbull

    Blue Jays Sign José Ureña

    Ross Stripling Retires

    Rangers Place Leody Taveras On Outright Waivers

    Triston Casas Likely To Miss Entire 2025 Season Due To Knee Surgery

    Recent

    Dodgers Notes: Kershaw, Edman, Hernandez, Ohtani

    MLBTR Live Chat

    Giants Move Jordan Hicks To Bullpen

    Dodgers Activate Clayton Kershaw

    Twins Place Byron Buxton On Concussion IL

    Jose Quintana Seeking Second Opinion On Shoulder

    Pirates Activate Spencer Horwitz

    White Sox Outright Jacob Amaya

    Yankees Notes: Canning, Cousins, Stanton

    Guardians Activate Slade Cecconi

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version