Call to the pen
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New York Mets: Three free agent relievers to upgrade the bullpen

By Nick Stevens

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 16: A grounds crew member paints the Mets logo on the field during the 84th MLB All-Star Game on July 16, 2013 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 16: A grounds crew member paints the Mets logo on the field during the 84th MLB All-Star Game on July 16, 2013 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Jake McGee
(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

If he can pitch close to as well as he did last season, Jake McGee would be a solid pickup for the New York Mets.

Last, but not least, let’s talk about Jake McGee. McGee struggled in his final two seasons with the Colorado Rockies, accumulating -0.5 Wins Above Replacement from 2018-2019, but the 34-year–old reliever really turned things around in 2020.

Pitching with the World Series LA Dodgers, McGee made 24 appearances, recording a 2.66 ERA (1.67 FIP), a .184 average against, and a 0.84 WHIP. He also posted a remarkable 41.8% strikeout rate and a career-low 3.8% walk rate across 20.1 innings.

McGee averaged 94.9 mph with his four-seam fastball last season. It’s not the 97 mph he used to average as a younger pitcher with the Tampa Bay Rays, but McGee’s fastball hasn’t averaged higher than 94 mph since 2017, so his shortened 2020 campaign was a big step in the right direction on multiple fronts.

If the New York Mets believe last season wasn’t a fluke, McGee may cost a bit more money, but his value would be worth the contract.

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The Mets have been rumored to be active all off-season and they have made a few moves to improve the roster, but you have to imagine the big move is on the way. Adding one of these bullpen arms doesn’t qualify as the “big move” but singing any one (or two) names on this list would improve the New York Mets roster heading into the 2021 season.

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