The Mets are among the teams that have some interest in free-agent lefty Zack Britton, tweets Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Britton, of course, is plenty familiar with Mets skipper Buck Showalter from the pair’s days in Baltimore, and recently hired bullpen coach Dom Chiti was Britton’s bullpen coach for three years with the Orioles as well.
Britton would give the Mets at least two clear left-handers in the ’pen, joining trade acquisition Brooks Raley as a southpaw who’s seemingly guaranteed a spot. Displaced starter David Peterson could vie for a bullpen gig himself, though perhaps the Mets would prefer to keep him stretched out in the event that they need to tap into their minor league depth. Peterson does have a pair of minor league option years remaining. The Mets also have both Joey Lucchesi (returning this year from Tommy John surgery) and Tayler Saucedo as left-handed bullpen options on the 40-man roster.
The 35-year-old Britton has seen his star dim in recent seasons, due primarily to injuries. Britton underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone chip from his elbow in March 2021 — a procedure that sidelined him for the season’s first two months. He returned in June but pitched only briefly before a hamstring strain sent him back to the injured list. Britton’s return from that injury proved short-lived as well. He was put back on the IL with an elbow strain and went back under the knife for a second procedure to remove chips from his elbow Sept. 2021.
It was announced prior to the surgery that doctors would also be examining potential damage to his ulnar collateral ligament during the procedure. That ominous update was indeed a portent for a more severe injury, as the operation revealed that Britton required a reconstruction of said ligament; a Tommy John procedure wound up being performed as well.
Britton made a fairly improbable comeback when he was activated from the injured list in late September. However, he appeared in just three games with the Yankees and walked six of the nine men he faced before returning to the IL with what the team called shoulder fatigue. Britton’s 92.8 mph average sinker in those three appearances was nowhere close to either the 96.9 mph he averaged at his peak or the 94.9 mph he averaged during his last healthy season in 2020.
Given that recent run of health woes, Britton clearly comes with a good bit of injury risk. Due to the pair of surgeries and the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, he’s totaled just 38 innings since the conclusion of the 2019 season. Britton, to his credit, was excellent in 2020. However, he’s been rocked for a 6.16 ERA with more walks (20) than strikeouts (17) in 19 innings across the past two seasons.
Of course, at his peak, Britton was one of the game’s very best relievers. From 2014-20, the flamethrowing sinker specialist pitched to a combined 1.84 ERA in 367 1/3 innings with a 24% strikeout rate, a 9.2% walk rate and a 76.2% ground-ball rate that established him as the best ground-ball pitcher since batted-ball data began being tracked in 2002. Britton’s ground-ball rates in 2016 (80%), 2015 (79.1%) and 2019 (77.2%) are the three highest single-season marks from a qualified pitcher that have ever been tracked. Unsurprisingly, he suppressed home runs at an elite rate, averaging just 0.37 long balls per nine innings pitched during his seven-year peak.
Certainly, the Mets or any other team signing Britton will be hoping for a reliever closer to those levels than the ugly results he turned in during his injury-ruined 2021-22 seasons. It’s not realistic to expect Britton will return to his juggernaut 2015-16 form, but a healthy Britton is quite obviously still a talented, potential late-game option.
It’s at least worth noting that Heyman’s colleague, Mike Puma, tweets that although the Mets indeed have interest in Britton, it’s also possible their recent frustration following the Carlos Correa saga could impact any potential talks. Both Correa and Britton are represented by the Boras Corporation. Given the number of top-level free agents Boras represents each winter and the Mets’ penchant for chasing big-name stars, it’s overwhelmingly unlikely that the Mets would swear off dealing with the Boras Corporation entirely. That said, with the sting of that saga still fresh for all parties, some short-term frustration is feasible enough.
Very nice of the Mets to consider acquiring free batting practice for the opposing team in high leverage situations
In Heyman we trust, all of a sudden now?
Disagree depending on his health.
Hes toast my friend.
If the sinker doesn’t sink, that’s a problem
The Mets showing interest in another Yankee? Heavens!
His peripherals were strong in his brief appearances. The movement on his pitches remained. His velocity was down, but mostly it was his inability to throw strikes. Not surprising considering he rushed back.
Had a 160 ERA+ with the Yankees. I could see him bouncing back to be an effective lefty option with the off season to continue his rehab. Velocity should also tick up.
If I had to guess, I suspect he returns to the Yankees based on comments made both by Britton and the Yankees. They could also use a second lefty in their pen.
Well the Mets are still waiting on Correa. He’s been working at Taco Bell waiting for an answer. At least he has benefits working there.
Let’s not underestimate the importance of a good medical plan for someone like Correa!
@RobM: He is a free agent, which makes him a former Yankee.
If his sinker ain’t working his night is a guaranteed floater
He could actually be good, if he would stop getting injured and reworked his pitches.
Yeah, if he only changes basically everything about himself, maybe even start pitching righty, he could be decent….lol.
Yes, he could be great if he could just learn how to pitch better!
Blue could actually be green, if it would just add some yellow.
Im a Britton believer, he will tick up a hair and be a serviceable lefty
It only takes one sucker to believe in a guy. Cohen might be the one.
If the velo isn’t there teams have to question the effectiveness of the power slider. Britton was rushed back and should have sat out last year. If he worked on his conditioning he should get a nice 1 year deal.
I agree. And as a lefty with that repertoire, you could see a path where he could adjust at a lower speed as long as he can get the same action. Im not envisioning dominace or anything but more than servicable in the pen, if hes right. Not a bad flyer to take at all and get him in the spring, see what he’s has, and go from there.
The Mets organization wants to be the Yankees so bad they’ll do anything to pick up. They want to be the New York elite team so bad they’ll do anything. Still even with all that money
The Yankees have signed more former Mets, and it’s not even close.
If the Mets want to be like the Yankees why are they spending so much money?
He could reunite with Showalter to yet again be left waiting in the pen. #wildcard
@jwinker- Yeah truthfully why would Britton want to go to the Mets after that? An excellent point!
Omg Mets, just go get Chafin
@Ma4170 Spot on dude as a long time Mets Fan you just saved a ton on Carlos so why not Chafin other than Eppler’s love of ex Yankees?!
Right??
Considering how much they’ve spent, they might as well sign Chafin and Britton. Mets need lefty bullpen guys.
think NYM should continue beefing up pen. Not sure Britton is the guy. But Fulmer, Chafin, Hand still available, correct?
I’ll take Fulmer or Chafin. I’d rather lend a Hand to another team in need.
Matt Moore too. All much better options than Britton. If you want another lefty, Chafin is your guy.
I know money doesn’t matter but Britton and Hand should be the cheapest options. All have been serviceable and all should be in the mix for all teams pens, to be honest. Chafin looks like the best option, Hand the worst without any other info at this time or knowing salary demands…
I don’t see how taking a flier out on Britton can really hurt. At best a weapon out of the pen who can get you a ground ball at worst you cut him loose. Not much to think about imo.
No thanks. He was great in 15/16 because his control was markedly better than at any point in his career. Now he has reduced velocity on his money pitch. Very high risk if your going to give him a mlb deal before ST.
Cohen does all of a sudden have $300+ extra million to spend
Give Buck the chance to finally put Britton into a playoff game!
If i was the mets I would steer clear, dude always has been a big disappointment. Always injured , to boot. Not there when you need him the most.