Tyler Clippard agrees to deal with Diamondbacks

The bespectacled one is making a move to Arizona, as Tyler Clippard, who had a 3.06 ERA in 32 regular season appearances with the Mets after a mid-season swap with Oakland in exchange for Casey Meisner, agreed to a two-year deal with the Diamondbacks that will pay him $4.1 million in 2016 and $4.15 million in 2017, with a $4 million signing bonus on top.

Though he was very effective in the regular season, Clippard faltered in the playoffs. The reliever surrendered five runs (all earned) on seven hits and three walks in just 5.2 innings against the Dodgers, Cubs, and Royals. Beneath the surface, it appeared Clippard was well into a regression period despite strong bottom-line results. His 2.60 strikeout-to-walk ratio was his worst since converting to full-time relief duty in 2009, and his 7.2 K/9 was a far cry from the 10.4 mark he averaged across a five-year period in Washington that made him one of the most successful relievers in baseball. His 4.28 FIP for the full season does not paint quite the same picture his 2.92 ERA did, at the very least.

There had been talks that the Mets might retain Clippard as recently as last week, but ultimately Sandy Alderson was not keen to give two guaranteed years to a 31-year-old reliever in his decline phase. The Mets added Antonio Bastardo on a similar deal in January, and will have more than enough contenders for Clippard's innings this season.