The New York Mets have a list of relief pitchers they should trade for, as well as a list of players they should avoid. If your ERA is higher than Andre the Giant’s billed weight, you can stay put. While each of these potential trade candidates has something to offer, David Stearns should focus his resources on someone else.
1) Michael Kopech
Michael Kopech recently made headlines for his outstanding relief performance for the Chicago White Sox. He’s a White Sox player who has gone in the opposite route of Garrett Crochet, and his feat will be forgotten in their team for another 100 years. While Crochet is on the rise after transitioning from reliever to starter, Kopech has advanced from an ordinary starting pitcher in 2022 to a closer in 2024. Things haven’t gone smoothly.
Kopech is 2-8 with a 5.18 ERA in 40 innings pitched. Striking out more than 12 batters per 9 innings isn’t enough to make him a Mets consideration when he’s surrendering so many runs and walking more than 5 times every 9 innings.
The appeal of Kopech is an additional year of control till 2025. Teams will consider him because of his lower payroll cost and the potential he has with another season under his belt. He’s got nasty stuff, but the results haven’t been great this year.
2) Hector Neris
The Mets helped break the Chicago Cubs by taking 2 out of 3 from them back in June. Closer Hector Neris, known as a volatile reliever this season, has already been broken.
Neris’ ERA has dipped back to 3.86, but his 23 walks to 35 strikeouts in the first 32.2 innings is concerning. He has a 1.56 WHIP and opponents are batting.235 against him. Even when he calms down and isn’t giving up on runs, Neris is far too
3. Matt Moore
Matt Moore is an even better illustration of a trade market player whose value should be limited to salary relief. If he is not dealt by the deadline, it is not unreasonable to expect the Los Angeles Angels to place him on waivers to avoid paying the remainder of his salary.
Another consideration for the Mets this winter, his name was frequently mentioned on the rumor mill for this team. His previous success as a lefty reliever appears to be short-lived. Moore had an incredible year in 2022 and a nearly as spectacular one in 2023, but he has been considerably less productive this year after spending time on three different MLB squads.
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