You have a list of relief pitchers you want the New York Mets to trade for, but what about the ones you’d prefer they avoid?
The list of players to avoid is even longer. If a pitcher’s ERA is higher than Andre the Giant’s billed weight, they’re not worth considering.
While there’s something appealing about each of these potential Mets trade candidates, with limited spots available, David Stearns would be better off investing his resources elsewhere.
1) Michael Kopech
Michael Kopech recently made headlines with an immaculate inning in relief for the Chicago White Sox. However, despite this achievement, Kopech has regressed, unlike Garrett Crochet who has improved after transitioning from a reliever to a starter. Kopech has moved from being an average starting pitcher in 2022 to a closer in 2024, but his performance has been underwhelming.
Kopech holds a 2-8 record with a 5.18 ERA over 40 innings. Striking out more than 12 batters per 9 innings isn’t enough when he’s also allowing a high number of runs and over 5 walks per 9 innings.
The allure of Kopech lies in an extra year of control through 2025 and his lower payroll cost, along with his potential improvement with another season. However, his wildness is a significant drawback, especially for a Mets pitching staff already plagued by control issues in 2024. It’s better to look for a more reliable, albeit potentially more expensive, reliever.
2) Hector Neris
The Mets took 2 out of 3 from the Chicago Cubs in June, contributing to the Cubs’ struggles. Closer Hector Neris, known for being a volatile reliever, has been no exception this season.
Neris has managed to lower his ERA to 3.86, but his 23 walks versus 35 strikeouts in 32.2 innings is concerning. With a 1.56 WHIP and opponents hitting .235 against him, his tendency to issue walks remains problematic.
The Mets considered Neris in the offseason, and they might try to acquire him in a trade similar to the Phil Maton deal. However, despite his slightly better numbers than Kopech, the Mets should be wary of Neris’s history of inconsistency, particularly from his time with the Philadelphia Phillies.
3) Matt Moore
Matt Moore is another example of a player who might not cost much more than salary relief on the trade market. If not traded by the deadline, the Los Angeles Angels might even place him on waivers to shed his remaining salary.
Moore was a consideration for the Mets this past offseason, and his name frequently comes up in trade rumors. While he had an outstanding year in 2022 and a strong performance in 2023 across three MLB rosters, he has been far less effective this season.
With a 4.79 ERA over 35.2 innings, a strikeout rate of 6.8 per 9 innings, and a walk rate of 4.3 per 9 innings, Moore’s performance has declined significantly. Additionally, he has allowed 8 home runs, making him a risky acquisition.
Moore is owed the remainder of an identical $9 million as Neris, with the only advantage being his left-handed pitching. While acquiring a lefty reliever is a priority for the Mets, Moore might not offer the improvement they need.