Are the New York Mets going to make a bold play for a nasty reliever?
As the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches, the New York Mets have a lot of factors to consider.
Obviously, a team with the largesse of the Mets wants to win every year. They've got a strong lineup, but the pitching staff could undoubtedly use support. And they also have to consider the future, because there are a lot of moving parts.
Yes, Pete Alonso is almost certainly heading to free agency again. But will closer Edwin Díaz join him?
It would have seemed unthinkable at one point that Díaz, who missed a full season due to injury, would opt out of his record-setting extension that he signed after 2022. But he's been lights-out lately, and he's set for a slight pay cut over the next three years if he sticks around.
For that reason, ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote Wednesday that Minnesota Twins setup man Griffin Jax would be the "best fit" for the Mets at the deadline if New York can convince Minnesota to let him go.
"The Mets need relief help. Getting Brooks Raley back helps, but the majority of Mets relievers struggle with control. Jax is all about command and his ability to spot his wicked off-speed pitches, especially, is as good as any reliever in the game," wrote Passan.
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"Edwin Díaz can opt out of his contract following the season, and he's almost certain to do so with the sort of numbers he's putting up. Having a ready-made replacement in case Díaz leaves -- and one whose salary is going to be exceptionally low because he has not racked up saves, the way relievers get paid in arbitration -- is simply good management."
Don't let Jax's 3.74 ERA fool you--this is one of the most dominant relief arms in the sport today. He's got 68 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings and a minuscule 1.92 FIP. Not a single slugger would want to face the righty with a playoff game on the line.
There's no guarantee that Jax will be available, but with two years of control after 2025, it's easy to see why the Mets would be enthralled by the possibility of acquiring him.
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Category: Baseball
