New York Mets: Trade Deadline Overview
Marc Rzepczynski and John Axford – Oakland Athletics
Sitting 10 games under .500 and 12.5 out of first place in the American League West, the Oakland Athletics look to be sellers at the trade deadline.
Two of their relievers who could find their way to the Big Apple are Marc Rzepczynski and John Axford. The reliever most likely to leave the A’s is Rzepczynski, who will be a free agent after this season. However, Axford would be with the team for two years and could prove to be a reliable set-up man for Familia.
Rzepczynski is a left-hander who has had his ups and downs throughout his career. Over eight years he’s had an ERA as high as 5.66 and as low as 2.74. In 2016, the 30-year-old has pitched in 21.2 innings and boasts a 3.32 ERA.
Adding Rzepczynski would help give the Mets another lefty-specialist to pitch beside Blevins. He would not be able to fill-in as the seventh inning man, however. That’s where Axford comes in.
Axford, the former Milwaukee closer, has found himself stuck in a rut in Oakland. Ryan Madson is currently the closer for the A’s and with Sean Doolittle also in the bullpen, Axford’s role changes between set-up man and seventh inning reliever.
If the Mets were to trade for the right-hander, the team could use him in a similar situation as the A’s, as he would battle Reed as the set-up man to Familia. While he’d be more expensive than Rzepczynski, Axford has proven to be reliable late in games and has prior experience closing if Familia ever needs rest.
Will Smith, Jeremy Jeffress, and Blaine Boyer – Milwaukee Brewers
After rehabbing back from a torn LCL, Will Smith has returned to the back to the bullpen for the Brewers. In six games since being activated off the disabled list, Smith has thrown lights out, not allowing a single run and posting a WHIP of 0.53.
With the Brewers three games under .500 and 14 games behind the Chicago Cubs, they will be sellers at the trade deadline.
Both Smith and Jeremy Jeffress are among the best options when it comes to relief pitchers, as both are currently battling to be the team’s closer. Right now, Jeffress (2.67 ERA, 18 saves) has held down the fort, but manager Craig Counsell mentioned Smith will get looks in the near future.
Smith and Jeffress have proven to be lock-down options over the past few years for Milwaukee and would be great additions to a contending team. Enter the Mets. While Familia would be the closer, Smith and/or Jeffress could slide into the set-up or seventh inning roles seamlessly.
Both relievers hit arbitration after this year, which is an enticing offer for the Mets. While the Brewers will demand more for these two relievers because of arbitration, the Mets could lock-down either Smith or Jeffress as their set-up man until they become free agents in 2020.
Another Brewer that could be shipped away at the trade deadline and will be a free agent at the end of this year is right-hander Blaine Boyer. After a rocky start to his career, Boyer has produced a great 2016 campaign thus far, posting a 2.03 ERA in 31 innings.
Boyer is the cheapest option of the trio, but he is not as reliable as Smith and Jeffress. While his ERA is near the 2.00 mark, his career ERA over 10 years is 4.03.
Alexi Ogando – Atlanta Braves
Alexi Ogando has bounced around the majors since his rookie year with Texas. The 32-year-old right-hander has finally settled back down since his dominant first few years in the majors, posting a 3.86 ERA and 8.4 K/9 ratio.
The Atlanta Braves sit dead last in the National League East, 26 games under .500 and will definitely be shopping their expiring contracts, Ogando being one of them.
The Mets can use Ogando in the middle-to-end of the game, giving depth to the weak Mets bullpen. And the plus to acquiring him? The Mets will not have to give up much for him.
Next: The Lucroy Effect