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As has been rumored for over a month, the Mets are in the market for some bullpen help. Newsday’s Marc Carig reports that the Mets and Angels have “gone back and forth” on a deal for 32-year-old setup man Joe Smith.
Smith, who was drafted by the Mets in the third round of the 2006 draft and debuted with the big league club in 2007, has been an effective reliever throughout his career. In each season between 2011 and 2014, he posted an ERA under 3.00. So far this year, he has a 3.96 ERA, which would be the highest of his career if the season ended today. His 4.74 FIP, also a career high, is even more concerning. Smith is in the final year of his contract and will be a free agent at the end of this season.
The Mets’ bullpen has had a good year overall, as Jerry Blevins, Hansel Robles, Addison Reed, and Jeurys Familia have been excellent. But they could still use a reliable arm to help in the team’s stretch run. Assuming Smith is a better pitcher than he has been this year, he could be a low-cost option for a team not looking to overspend this year.