Brodie Van Wagenen called the Mets’ rotation one of the deepest in baseball, but that will be put to the test with Noah Syndergaard missing the 2020 season.
There is no question on who the Mets’ five starters are for 2020. However, they were going to rely on Noah Syndergaard heavily this season. The flamethrower underwent Tommy John surgery in March and will be out until at least the beginning of the 2021 season.
Jacob deGrom, the back-to-back National League Cy Young Award winner, headlines the Mets starting staff. Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz, and newcomers Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha will round out the rest.
However, if one of them goes down with injury, the next man in line, whether it’s Walker Lockett, Corey Oswalt, or Seth Lugo, simply are not good Major League starters.
While Mets’ general manager Brodie Van Wagenen thinks the Mets have a deep rotation, the question remains if it’s actually that good. So here are six starting pitchers the Mets can acquire to get to be deeper, and better.
Alex Cobb
He hasn’t been the same since he signed a four-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles, and underwent surgery early last season after suffering a myriad of injuries. But Cobb was once a promising arm for the Tampa Bay Rays and was seemingly healthy in spring training. The Orioles probably want to put some sort of product on the field this year, but simultaneously, they may be shopping Cobb near the trade deadline, as he has just two years left on his deal.
Jon Gray
Similar to Cobb, Gray also has two years left on his deal. No one really knows what Colorado is doing, especially after not trading Nolan Arenado this offseason, but dealing the 28-year old righty could be beneficial for the Rockies. Gray’s 3.84 ERA last season was the second-best of his career, and if the Rockies wind up rebuilding, Gray should be a target. His ERA would certainly look much better moving from Coors Field to Citi Field, too.
Matthew Boyd
The Mets could use another lefty in their rotation, as Steven Matz is the lone southpaw. Boyd has had to face tough lineups in the Indians and Twins being in the AL East, but he also posted a career-high 11.6 K/9 last season. Boyd has been on the block before, and he would give the Mets some versatility.
Deivi Garcia
The Yankees probably want Garcia to be the next great homegrown pitcher. Garcia has even been battling for the Yankees’ fifth-start role. Garcia would be expensive, but keep in mind, only one Mets start is under contract past the 2021 season. Garcia could be in Queens for a long time.
Jason Vargas
The Mets had to get something for Vargas last year. They knew it, as he was posting his best numbers in years. But when he almost fought a reporter at Wrigley Field, that made it that much easier for the Mets to get rid of him. But he was Varg-ace for a brief time last season. He’s washed, but he is durable.
Matt Harvey
Yeah, I said it.
Okay, he’s no longer the pitcher he was in his Dark Knight days. But that’s the beauty of sports. If you keep stinking, you get cut! Meaning Harvey is currently a free agent after being let go by the Angels.
But Mets fans have a soft spot for Harvey. For crying out loud, he ruined the rest of his career trying to give the Mets their first World Series championship since 1986. He came with unwanted drama, but when he was on, boy was he on. He is this generation’s Doc Gooden — maybe without the hardcore drugs. Imagine what could happen if he’s even half of what he was in 2013 and 2015.