The Mets have interest in free agent right-hander Ryne Stanek, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. That would track with the club’s interest in making further bullpen moves, something that was confirmed by president of baseball operations David Stearns recently. Andy Martino of SNY relays that the club is willing to spend another $10MM or so this offseason, with perhaps more funds available at the deadline if they are contending. Martino adds that the club has spoken to the representatives for free agent righty Héctor Neris.
There has been a lot of turnover in the Mets’ bullpen relative to last year. David Robertson and Dominic Leone were traded at last year’s deadline, then Adam Ottavino opted out of his deal. Various other players were either non-tendered or outrighted.
Since then, the club has given one-year deals to Michael Tonkin, Jorge López and Austin Adams. That’s been in keeping with the club’s slate of short-term moves to bolster other parts of the roster. Sean Manaea got a two-year deal but with an opt-out after year one, while to Luis Severino Harrison Bader and Joey Wendle all inked one-year deals. The bullpen also got a new arm via trade when the Mets acquired Yohan Ramírez from the White Sox, and they’ve given minor league deals to journeymen like Cole Sulser, Yacksel Ríos and others.
It seems the club is still hoping to add another arm in there before Opening Day. Stanek, 32, has had a solid run for the Astros over the past three years. He’s made 186 appearances in that time with a 2.90 earned run average. He has struck out 27% of batters faced but also given out walks a a 12.2% clip. That strikeout rate fell to 23.9% in 2023, but he also cut his walk rate to 9.9%, a career low for him.
Neris, 35 in June, spent the past two years with Houston, with a 2.69 ERA over his 141 appearances. He paired a 29.1% strikeout rate with a 9% walk rate. His ERA dropped from 3.72 in 2022 to 1.71 last year, but that seems to have involved quite a bit of good fortune. His strikeout and walk rates actually worsened compared to the year prior, but his batting average on balls in play dropped by more than 70 points while his strand rate spiked from 63.4% to 90.5%. Neris’ 3.83 FIP and 3.89 SIERA in 2023 were each more than a full run higher than they were in 2022.
Either pitcher could be a sensible option for the Mets. Astros general manager Dana Brown recently said that they have interest in bringing those pitchers back, though that was before they signed Josh Hader and launched themselves over the competitive balance tax threshold. Neris has also reportedly received interest from the Rangers, Yankees and Cardinals.
Despite heading into 2024 with a sort of retool in mind, the Mets have a CBT number of $318MM, per Roster Resource. That’s well over the fourth and final tier of the CBT, which is $297MM this year. As a third-time payor in that stratosphere, the Mets are subject to a 110% tax rate on any further spending, though it seems that won’t be an obstacle to them adding to their bullpen in the coming weeks.
towinagain
Padres should sign Neris.
Will they?
Nope.
Why?
In a word.
Cheap.
horaceallen
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Neris land in the Bronx.
Joe says...
The most recent reporting says the Yankees are not expected to sign Neris. Most likely are getting Wandy or Middleton.
Joe says...
Edit* this report comes from Jack Curry so there’s some credibility to it.
LordD99
Agreed. Curry knows what the Yankees are planning, so he always directionally points to what they’re thinking.
Blackpink in the area
Are you going to whine and cry in every thread like this?
towinagain
Until the Padres prove they want to win, of course I am going to be vocal.
In the very least, the Padres need a good faith signing.
And the generic ‘whine’ ‘whining’ ‘baby’ retorts lend to automated, bot, driven AI generated responses.
Sports Illustrated, is that you?
Dialogue in a such a way that I know I am conversing with a member of humanity.
Discourse and discussion are tantamount to understanding different perspectives.
Blackpink in the area
Discussion?
You are running from thread to thread whining that the Padres didn’t sign whatever player the thread is about. That’s not a discussion.
Mets6986??
The Padres overspent by a lot to try to win you a championship. Their owner died and they need to reset. You’re the reason why some owners never spend. Nothing is good enough for you and all you do is want more.
Blackpink in the area
You get a like but I do find it funny that the Mets fan has to be the one to say all that.
towinagain
Branding someone a “whiner” is generic. There is no discussion.
The narrative is “the Padres have nothing to spend”.
Have the books been opened?
Do we as Padres fans know that for sure?
I find it convenient that after Peter Seidler passed there was an immediate “restructuring” of sorts.
Peter Seidler worked on behalf of an equity group.
There was a major shift within the ownership group. This wasn’t a Seidler passing issue.
towinagain
Nothing is good enough…until you win a World Series. Correct.
Blackpink in the area
Calm down. This is a post about the Mets looking at bullpen help not a post about the Padres.
You are not owed anything. If ownership decides to spend less that’s the way it is. They were spending above their means the last couple years, probably because the owner knew he was dying. Now it’s back to reality.
Paleobros
Would it help if they brought back the Famous Chicken?
Hammerin' Hank
And now the Padres will probably go back to acting like a small-market team again. Which just goes to show that this is more a choice made by particular owners than an actual condition. The majority of these cheap teams could spend a lot more. They simply choose not to.
towinagain
Wait? So as a fan we aren’t owed anything?
How does that work?
So if we boycott, it’s our fault?
Hey, I’m completely fine with the Padres leaving San Diego and Petco going the way of Qualcomm.
I can refresh your memory. The Chargers left SD and the stadium was torn down.
Fine by me if they tear down Petco and build low income housing.
If you don’t want to compete for a WS, move the team and redevelop SD.
towinagain
Exactly!
Blackpink in the area
The Padres projected payroll is about 180 million. That doesn’t scream “tear down Petco and build low income housing” to me.
towinagain
180 is a number reflecting past expenditures.
If a Soto trade and a few cheap bullpen signings are all that’s done this offseason, the ownership does not get a pass.
Last year is last year.
Blackpink in the area
It will be around 180 wait and see. They still have a lot of holes to fill. Might not be with top end talent but they are not done that’s for sure.
JackStrawb
So teams aren’t public trusts in any way, shape, form, or manifestation?
This sort of isolated bleakness becomes no one, son.
User 2161944466
I still have my doubts but it’s possible they may be better than people are expecting this year. Decent moves thus far. IMO
horaceallen
Shrewd moves, but still a pretty weak rotation (bullpen is bad right now, but should be better).. Also, need some things to break their way on the offensive side (they need some or all of: Marte bounce back, Baty major improvement, Alvarez some improvement, Vientos major improvement).
TrumboRedux
Jimmy, if they ever cast for a live-action Simpsons movie, I know who is 1st in line for the role of Sideshow Bob..
User 2161944466
Ha. My hair piece was in the wash when I took my selfie. Sideshow’s job is safe.
Old York
Why? Neris would only be a 2-year thing unless the Mets…
Wait, what am I thinking. It’s the Mets. They’ll probably sign him to a 10 year deal.
Nevermind, move along…
raisinsss
Is there any rational basis to this comment besides “lolmets?”
I’m trying to determine whether to mute you.
Old York
@raisinsss
Was there any rational basis to this comment besides lolraisinsss?
By all means, go an mute me. I honestly don’t worry whether someone cares to read what I post. I’m not an Attention Monger like some people.
raisinsss
I’m not sure how “putting 5 seconds of thought” into commenting is being an “Attention Monger.”
This is about low/no value commentary.
Old York
@raisinsss
What was low/no value commentary? If it is low/no value, you seem to be investing a lot of effort into it. LOL!
Hammerin' Hank
The world is waiting for your decision on whether or not to mute him. Do keep us posted.
Roll
wow of all the teams to say free agent long contracts you say the mets who have never signed a free agent over 8 years in length … could have mentioned the padres .. the phillies .. the yankees …the rangers the dodgers who have all done it and most of which are multiple times
the mets overpay but they rarely finish signing a free agent long term and usually even the free agent long terms were with the mets the prior seasons Wright & Nimmo at i believe 8 then a bunch of 6 or 7 yr free agent resigning with beltran being i believe the only non former met.
at least troll with the right trolling.
ChrisMonte
Lindor
paniac
that was an extension
rct
Lindor is literally the only player they’ve ever given a 10 year deal to. Your trolling is idiotic and not based in reality. Beltran, Wright, Santana, Nimmo, Piazza, etc none of them got 10 year deals. Stop.
Ella B
York, the Mets have given a bunch of guys 1 and 2 year contracts. I realize you were trying to be funny but like Kyle Schwarber you swung and missed…badly.
Old York
@Ella B
Oh, no, some rando named Ella B says I missed badly. Oh, the humility. What shall I do with my life?
I guess Lindor, Nimmo, Wright and even Bonilla aren’t on your payroll anymore. Okay… now, back to reality for me.
VonPurpleHayes
I’m a bit baffled that the Phillies haven’t pursued a Neris reunion. Maybe they have and it’s just not being reported.
sfes
Haven’t they soured on him a bit? I recall Philly fans compare his late inning performances to tight rope walking. Granted, he was great last year and reliever year to year performance can be up and down
VonPurpleHayes
Phillies fans sour on everyone, but the organization loved Neris and wanted to bring him back. Stros just gave him a ton back then.
10centBeerNight
Is “interested” a step up from “monitoring?”
JackStrawb
It’s somewhere between “perusing” and “mulling.”
And it’s a lot better than implying a player has a fondness for a franchise because he once bought socks in a mall fewer than 50 miles from its stadium.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
C’mon Mets trade Alonso already…if you wanted him bad enough you would have signed him already. I even have a trade partner in mind named the Seattle Mariners. One-two punch of Julio & Polar Bear would be fun to watch this summer.
Old York
@Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Isn’t Seattle where hitters no longer can hit? Even Griffey wanted out of that place. Time to sell the Mariners and move them to Mexico where the ball flies!
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
No Old York!!! No! No more cynical attitude Old York!! Remember our old friend Eugenio?? Good Vibes Only!!!! Good Vibes Only, he would say!!! So Polar Bear might hit 36 instead of 45 homeruns, our pitching staff will make them count!!! If we sign Blake Snell we could have four #1 starters in our rotation!!! Good Vibes Only, Old York!!!
Roll
There is no way Alonso is signing this offseason unless is ridiculous overpay. When have you seen a boras client sign a free agent just before their walk year.
rct
“if you wanted him bad enough you would have signed him already.”
This is not true in any way, shape, or form.
VonPurpleHayes
Some guys just want to experience free agency. It’s a rite of passage. Alonso is probably not even looking at extensions at this point. He wants to experience free agency, which doesn’t mean he wants to leave the Mets.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
It could play out like it did with Nimmo, where he played with the Mets all the way through his contract and the Mets re-upped him in free agency. However I think the Mets were in contention that season and needed Nimmo in the lineup. If the Mets don’t plan on contending this season, then Alonso is just being wasted. Mets might as well trade him, get a nice haul, and then if the feelings are still mutual he re-upps in free agency. They could wait until the deadline to do this trade as well.
VonPurpleHayes
I agree. That would be the ideal move, but the risk with a trade is Alonso sours on NY and enjoys his new squad.
And while I don’t think the Mets are all-in this year, that doesn’t mean they don’t want a Wildcard.
Rocker49
Hoping Stanek stays in the AL West, he is the absolute king of hitting and walking batters creating lots of traffic and giving up bombs! Dude’s entire game plan is throw as absolutely hard has possible with no clue of where it’s going. Never watched a more nerve wracking pitcher in all my life. Any favorable stats he has are negated when you watch him with your own eyes.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
I think he takes more pride in his long hair whipping around when he pitches than he does with making sure his fastball whips around.
Ella B
Never watched a more nerve wracking pitcher in all my life.
Jeruys Familia would like to have a word with you.
LambchoP
I’d like to see the Twins sign either of these guys. If the team isn’t going to trade for a good starting pitcher, then they better beef up their bullpen at least…
wvsteve
Wonder if pirates outbid them again lol
radhippo
Angels need to add Neris. They’d have a great bullpen that will definitely help the starters cut innings.
AgentF
Stanek, Yes! Neris, no!
Bill M
I’d definitely take Neris over Stanek
JackStrawb
” the club has spoken to the representatives for free agent righty Héctor Neris,” though the representatives did not speak in reply, and only giggled.