The Mets remain engaged at all levels of the reliever market, according to reports.
According to reporting from Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Mets had a meeting with free agent reliever Tanner Scott. Scott is widely considered to be the top remaining free agent reliever available, ranking 14th on MLB Trade Rumors’ Top 50 Free Agents list. The 30-year-old lefty is likely to receive a multi-year deal; MLB Trade Rumors predicts he will get four years, $56 million.
Drafted by the Orioles, Scott’s career really took off the past couple of seasons with the Marlins and he was named to his first All-Star Team last season before being dealt to Padres at the deadline. An classic fastball/slider reliever, Scott threw 4 1⁄3 scoreless innings for the Padres in the postseason. Of the 97 relievers with at least 100 innings since the start of 2023, Scott’s 2.04 ERA trails only Emmanuel Clase and he has emerged as one of the premiere setup men in the game.
Thus far this offseason, David Stearns has been content to take a bunch of fliers on guys who may be options to fill the gaps in the bullpen—similar to last offseason. However, it is notable that the Mets are shopping at the top of the relief market, even if they don’t end up buying. Adding a big name with a track record of success to set up for Edwin Díaz is tantalizing for the Mets, especially in a bullpen with very few roles set in stone with a little over a month until pitchers and catchers report. Behind Díaz, the Mets’ bullpen will include 2024 breakout performers Reed Garrett and Dedniel Núñez, the latter whose season was cut short due to injury. José Buttó, Sean Reid-Foley, and Danny Young will all likely be in the mix as well and new acquisition Griffin Canning may be a swingman type. Young is the only pitcher among that group who is left-handed, though Scott’s stuff proves equally effective against righties and lefties.
Though it is not clear at this time whether it will be Scott or someone else, league sources told Sammon that the Mets are still looking to add one or two more relief pitchers this offseason, which could happen via free agency or via trade.