The Mets were among the ten teams that attended free agent left-hander Zack Britton’s showcase on Friday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. While the Mets have just lost their closer to a long-term injury, Heyman notes that the Mets’ level of interest in Britton is still unknown.
Britton, 35, was once one of the game’s top relief pitchers, but injuries have held him back in recent years, and he’s only thrown 21 innings over the past two seasons. That small sample was highly uneffective as well, as Britton owned a 6.16 ERA over those two seasons for the Yankees. Last year, in particular, was a frustrating one for the veteran, as Britton worked his way back from 2021 Tommy John surgery to throw, only to walk six of nine batters in his return and wind up back on the injured list for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.
With those injury concerns fresh in the memory, it’s tricky to predict just what sort of pitcher Britton can be moving forward. There’s no question about his dominance during his prime, as Britton put in year after year of consistently elite relief work between 2014-20, working to a 1.84 ERA over 367 1/3 innings.
With that sort of track record, a healthy Britton would make sense for a number of teams to take a chance, including the Mets. Brooks Raley is the only left-hander currently projected to make their bullpen, so another southpaw would make some sense. They do have TJ McFarland and Zach Muckenhirn as left-handers in camp with the team, but Britton would represent a clear upgrade on both. They’re also down a man after Edwin Diaz’ season-ending injury suffered in the World Baseball Classic. One case against signing a veteran like Britton is the fact that out of their currently projected bullpen, only John Curtiss and Drew Smith have minor league options remaining, so the team may prefer to add an arm with options remaining to allow for a bit more flexibility in the bullpen ahead of a long season.
Of course, that’s only looking at the Mets, and it’s worth remembering that nine other teams also attended his showcase and would have some level of interest. It’s also worth noting that attendance at a showcase is far from a confirmation of any firm interest in a player, and there’s no indication yet that the Mets are actively pursuing the two-time All Star, although they do make a fair bit of sense.
So what were the other 9 teams that were there watching??
If you know that representatives from a total of 10 teams were there,
Then you must be able to identify all the teams at the workout.
Do some actual REPORTING !!
Instead of just posting what is fed to you..
Yesterday is gone = tell us what is going on NOW !!
Settle down.
Has telling someone to “settle down” or “relax” ever once actually made them settle down or relax? What a dumb thing to say.
Is complaining about the depth of details in a leaked report on a rumor site not a dumb thing to say?
Sometimes dumb comments deserve dumb responses
Ok saratoga, settle down, relax.
This just restates what was reported by Jon Heyman,
who’s crappy reporting only identified 1 of 10 teams
that sent reps to the workout.
Relax
Yes, that’s true. I agree.
Touché.
Calm down!!!!!!
Agreed. Shut up would have be more appropriate.
I’ll join you and the 18 other readers here who spoke up for greater civility and endorsed your comment. Thanks!
Lloyd Emerson = Mr. Belding
Who hurt you?
A tad harsh on the comment, but I agree in principle. I only read the story to see who the other 9 interested teams were. Identifying them was the real story.
Was your Starbucks shut down? Relax.
BAIT AND SWITCH HEADLINES!!
Maybe it wasn’t 10 teams. Maybe the Mets sent 10 of their scouts, and they all took separate cars!
If that were the case, wouldn’t it be cheating?
Now?
ARE YOU JG WENTWORTH?
if you need cash now
Their article is based on a tweet that doesn’t mention who the other teams were.
Start by clicking the links in the article. If you don’t like the information there, find it on your own.
This is exactly what I was thinking. I don’t think you need to settle down, tell it like it is because they made it sound like the Mets are the favorite and only team involved.
where do you want them to conjure this ‘information’ up from? they’re writing what they KNOW, which is that the mets were there as well as nine other apparently unnamed teams
Don’t say it unless you have all the information, otherwise it’s bad reporting.
They said 10 teams went there! How does that sound like “it’s only the Mets” ?
What are the other 9 teams who went there? If they’re not mentioned, then the headline is inferred to be all Mets.
Buck needs to stop crushing on former Orioles.
He had some good run with those O’s, and now he’s working for ownership willing to spend money and that is not adverse to paying for starting pitching. I say go for it. Not like Britton will be expensive.
He shouldn’t be expensive, but that’s the question. He held an identical showcase two weeks ago and here we are doing it again, because he had no takers. Likely reason is, he thinks he deserves more than a league minimum deal based on his past performance, but he just doesn’t have anything to justify such a gamble. If he did he wouldn’t be trying to impress scouts, he’d be signed by now.
He’s 35 or older. Perfect fit for the Metsies.
Mets will receive $ 20 MM insurance reimbursement for Edwin Diaz 2023 payroll from the WBC so they have some found $ to spend here.
I wasn’t at all worried about the Mets finances. They’re blowing through all the luxury tax penalties as is.
So what? They’re already millions over the luxury tax limit, what difference does money make?
Feels like teams are interested in Zach; but not in Scott Boras
A 1/3 of the league showed up. By the numbers, that’s some mix of most playoff-caliber teams and some teams who would like to flip him in July if he bounces back. Who’s afraid?
66% of the league.
(More than) 66% of the league. 9/30 isnt a third.
It’s ok adding is hard some time. Mets and 9 others is 1/3 which implies 20 out of 30, 2/3 were not interested
Look at Isaac Newton over here but 66.7 to be exact.
You are horrible at word problems, to be exact.
@rsmith: It’s basically 1/3, but you felt the need to correct him. Why?
And the report didn’t say 9/30 but hey, math is hard
The amount of pitchers with options hasn’t changed with the loss of Diaz, so why would that be a case against Britton? Maybe they see it as an opportunity to add someone with options but I wouldn’t say it would stop them from signing someone who’s out of them.
* Number of pitchers.
Britton was awesome and saved All Star games for the AL. The league’s best closer gets that role.
Sinker ballers like Bill Swift or Hershiser got more sink when a little tired, but were finesse. Britton’s power sinker was a devastating out pitch (cutter down) that rivalled Mariano Rivera’s cutter to the left. But Rivera threw his a long time.
Hope he gets his mojo / quan back, or muscle memory to cut the pitch down hard.
When sinker ballers are tired, they don’t bend their back as far and tend to get less sink, not more… Derek Lowe would talk about it often
Actually I’ve heard sinker ball pitchers are more effective when they’re a little tired. Makes the ball sink more.
I’m basing it off a major leaguer who had chronic back issues and openly talked about it in interviews while in LA. But I’m glad you’ve heard differently from… someone
WOW SETTLE DOWN
Comment section got up on the wrong side of the bed today!
Cohen should lure Britton to the Mets with a 6 year $120,000,000 offer.
These Mets and Padres spending swipes are getting old. The horse isn’t just dead, it’s dust in the wind.
If they are still doing it, its not old.
That’s all?
I liked Britton back when he was a rock in the bullpen but he’s still unsigned for a reason. To high axing price? Not good anymore? Both? Low cost one year deal with a decent option to get picked up by whatever club is the way he may have to go.
That comment about a high axing price was pretty cutting!
If he was with any other agent, Britton would be advised to take a one year, $3m deal with heavy incentives based on appearance. If he is good, he makes money, if he is bad, it’s $3m.
Totally agree.
If Britton was offered 3 million dollars he would have already signed. Odds are, after his first showcase, he was only offered a minor league deal by teams so he threw again after he recovered more, most likely got his velocity up a little.
I think he’s already been offered at least that if not more. I think he’s holding out letting spring training and injuries take their usual toll and waiting for something more to his liking. Could be overplaying his hand and that doesn’t always work out.
You guys are all missing out on the inevitable conclusion. Britton, Profar, Sanchez, etc. are planning on starting their own league. It would offer players without deals by the start of ST. Top pay will be $20,000 for position players and $20,001 for pitchers in the almost non-existent chance of playing MLB again. Remember the Federal League?
I strongly doubt he’s been offered more than 3 million. Brad Boxberger signed for less than 3 million and he pitched over 70 innings with a sun 3 era.
Yeah you’re probably right but I still think he’s asking too much.
We can be fairly certain he meant ASKING price but didn’t know how to spell it.
AXING PRICE!!!
The axing price is moo
@retired/advisory: For you who flunked English and/or dropped out of school after junior high.
axing price.
Preller traded for Rodgers at the beginning of last year. What move will the Mets make, the bullpen will fall apart if nothing is done
Worth a flyer I means what’s it gonna cost if he sucks release him
Since he’s still unsigned along with the fact that the angels attended his showcase and the very next day signed Matt Moore makes me think the showcase was underwhelming.
Matt Moore was a better choice. Really showed what he could do as a reliever last season. Wanted him on my team. As of right now, pre-season, Britton can only be considered a fall back (and that’s all there is now).
I guess I’ll be rooting for him to sign with one of the 9 un-named teams!
If he was with any other agent, Britton would be advised to take a one year, $3m deal with heavy incentives based on appearance. If he is good, he makes money, if he is bad, it’s $3m.
Interesting that both Britton and Profar are represented by Boras.
Seattle doesn’t have a LHRP (well, not a good one anyway), plays in a pitcher-friendly park. and has done an excellent job helping their pitchers stay healthy and find success.
Easy to believe they were one of the teams watching. They could easily make room for him by trading their number 7 starter (Miller is their real number 5, so yes, number 7 is correct) for infield depth.
I don’t know who MLBTR has on their “currently projected” Mets bullpen. But they are completely wrong about Smith and Curtiss being the only bullpen candidates with options remaining. Brigham, Montes de Oca, Ridings, Coonrod, and Lucchesi still have options remaining. Other than mainstays Roberts, Ottavino, and Raley (who would not be optioned anyway), only Nogosek and Santana are out of options, and Santana is not a lock to remain on the 40-man, anyway..
Highly “uneffective”?
Me fail English? That’s unpossible!
Was he misuninformed?
This story would have been real news if Britton wore a one piece bathing suit during his showcase.
Reds should push younger brother Diaz on Mets. He had a breakout season last year in majors. A package featuring around baty is an ideal return.
Alexis isn’t an Edwin clone. Just because they’re brothers doesn’t mean they have the same ability.
And, imo, the Reds would have to add a lot more to get Baty. I could see Parada for Diaz, because he’s further away. Top prospect, but not on the cusp yet.
A proven closer in the bigs for a single suspect does not a smart trade make.
Baty is not in the Show for a reason, probably why the Mets gave been hyping him for a trade.
Otherwise they wouldn’t have pursued Correa for a contract lasting over a decade.
You would think this would give Bloom a woody.
The movement on Britton’s pitches was very good in his short return from the IL last year, but he has zero command. Not unexpected. He rushed back to see if he could provide anything. He could be quite good, but he’ll need to look more at an incentive-laden deal. The Mets might be his best chance to get a shot at closing. He needs to be reasonable in his asks.
Mets, Cubs, Brewers, Yankees, Red Sox, Twins, Padres, Dodgers, Rangers, and Angels in attendance.
Isn’t this like the third time Britton has held a showcase for teams in the past few months? I have to admire his determination, but I gotta think he’s three and out if he’s still unsigned.