The New York Mets’ bullpen struggled all year in 2023. They posted a 4.45 ERA overall, which ranked 22nd in the major league last season.
Not having their dominant closer Edwin Diaz for the entire 2023 season put a dent in the bullpen and it seemed to affect every other Mets reliever performance.
In 2024, Diaz will be back as the closer, which alone will be a big boost in the bullpen. Adam Ottavino was brought back for at least one more year as the setup man. Ottavino’s 2023 performance dropped off from his great 2022 one. But he still finished with a 3.21 ERA last season, and having Diaz back, should take some pressure off him this season.
Lefty Brooks Raley and righty Drew Smith are also both back as the seventh and sometimes eighth inning relievers. Raley was reliable for most of 2023 as one of their workhorses. Smith continued his inconsistencies. But he has good hard-throwing stuff and so if he can pitch to his stuff while limiting home runs, he can finally be the solid reliever that the Mets envisioned when they acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays for Lucas Duda back in the 2017 midseason.
After them comes the newly acquired relievers that all have a chance to be key pieces, in Jorge Lopez, Shintaro Fujinami and Jake Diekman.
Lopez had a down year in 2023 but he was an All Star closer in 2022 for the Baltimore Orioles. That was only two seasons ago, so if Lopez can find his 2022 form again, he can be an important piece later in games.
Fujinami spent 2023 with the Oakland A’s and the Orioles. He was much better after being shipped to Baltimore. He’s had control issues, but he throws hard with his fastball averaging close to 98 mph which makes him a strikeout threat if he learns to control his pitches.
Finally, Diekman is a lefty who can complement Raley in getting key lefty hitters out. Diekman pitched for the Chicago White Sox and the Rays last season. He was much better after getting traded to Tampa Bay, with a 2.18 ERA with the Rays.
The Mets have other relievers who can provide depth if needed. Joey Lucchesi, Sean-Reid Foley, Grant Hartwig, Phil Bickford, Austin Adams and others are names that can fill in the bullpen if required.
So, the Mets bullpen is deeper and potentially better this year. They also will have more hard throwing relievers, unlike in 2023 when Mets relievers were one of the lowest ranked in terms of velocity of at least 95 mph or more thrown. Along with Diaz back, Diekman, Fujinami, Lopez and co can all throw fastball at least in the mid-90s.
The Mets bullpen struggles contributed to their 2023 struggles. But their improved depth, more hard throwing options and Diaz’s return can contribute to a much-improved bullpen, that can be key to a 2024 resurgence.
Fujinami and Lopez,sometimes those below the radar guys come through big time!
The first five of the bullpen should be better than the first five (in ERA) last year.
Diaz > Robertson but it isn’t a sure thing that is he tops Robertson’s ERA+ of 205.
Ottavino= Ottavino but the age is a concern
Raley Smith he was below his career average last year so he should improve
Diekman > Brigham etc.
Lopez, Fujinami ??? They had unacceptable ERA in 2023 but they have contracts
Tonkin ( or Lucchesi, Butto, Megill) as the much needed long reliever would be an improvement.
Yes , the bullpen is improved but it isn’t a dominant bullpen but it could be a biggest strength for this team.
Edit ; Raley had a career year in 2023 so he should regress.
The value of having Diekman, a lefty, is that it allows the Mets to save Raley for those 8th inning situations. Too often last year, we saw Raley used as the situational lefty in a middle inning, pushing Ottavino and Smith up towards the later innings where they were not well suited. Diekman’s presence makes Otto and Smith less of a vulnerability.
I like the bullpen and the fact that they have a bunch of potential wild cards in AAA. With AAA being like that, we can bring up the hot hand.
I am hoping that Mr Fuji becomes a lights out reliever. I followed him last year and he showed some improvement after he went to Baltimore. I love pitchers who can hit triple digits.
I also can’t wait to hear the trumpets blare again when Diaz comes into a game.
Hope may be the biggest component of the 2024 pen at this stage.