Mets Sign Reliever RHP Dellin Betances to a One-Year deal

Mets RHP Dellin Betances (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com)

The New York Mets signed reliever RHP Dellin Betances to a one-year deal today. Betances is getting a $5.3 million signing bonus and a $2.2 million base salary in 2020. He has a $6 million player option for 2021 with a $3 million buyout and a vesting player option for 2022. Betances pitched in only one game in the 2019 season due to shoulder issues and a partial Achilles tear, but is expected to make a full recovery for next year. He had a dominant stretch from 2014-2018 and was a four-time All Star and became the first reliever to have five consecutive 100 strikeout seasons. In his last full season in 2018, he made 66 appearances with a 2.70 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings. He has a career 2.36 ERA, 1.04  WHIP, and an incredible 14.6 K/9 in 381 2/3 over eight years with the Yankees. This is a great move since the Mets had to upgrade their bullpen after a disastrous 2019 season. If Betances is healthy, he could help form one of the best bullpens in baseball alongside Edwin Diaz, Jeurys Familia, and Seth Lugo.

Mets Sign RHP Rick Porcello To One-Year Deal

Mets RHP Rick Porcello (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com)

The New York Mets signed RHP Rick Porcello today to a one-year, $10 million deal. Porcello is a local New Jersey native from Morristown and had his best season in 2016 after won the American League Cy Young with the Boston Red Sox. Since that year, he has struggled and had his worst season of his career with a 5.52 ERA. Porcello is a sinker-ball ball and records a lot of ground-outs when he's at his best and need strong infield defense behind him. It's a risk, but one worth taking since they were another need of another starting pitcher and a fifth starter. With the signing of Porcello and RHP Michael Wacha yesterday, they have plenty of pitching depth. Porcello is only 30 and hopefully will find success like he did in 2016. Now they can focus on adding more pieces to the bullpen since the starting rotation is set.

Mets Sign RHP Michael Wacha To One-Year Deal

Mets RHP Michael Wacha (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com)

The New York Mets signed RHP Michael Wacha today to a one-year deal pending a physical. Wacha will be making $3 million guaranteed and could make up to $7 million with incentives. He made 24 starts and five relief appearances for the Cardinals last year and went 6-7 with a 4.76 ERA, 1.563 WHIP and a 7.4 K/9 in 126.2 innings. It was a difficult year for him last year with the second worst ERA in his career. Wacha has had difficulty staying healthy the last few years  after he shut down in June 2018 with an oblique injury and in 2016 he went on the IL (Injured List) with shoulder inflammation. He was able to stay healthy last year and avoid the IL, so hopefully he will be able to make 30-35 starts.  With this signing, it is expected that Wacha will be the Mets fifth starter this year and RHP Seth Lugo and RHP Robert Gsellman will stay in the bullpen as middle and long relievers and can also step in as starter pitchers in case of injury.

Mets Sign Reliever Brad Brach To One-Year Deal

Mets Reliever Brad Brach (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com)

The New York Mets signed reliever RHP Brad Brach today on a one-year, $850,000 deal with a player option of $1.25 million for 2021. Brach was signed by the Mets this past August after he was released by the Chicago Cubs. He had a 3.68 ERA, 2.67 FIP,  and 15 strikeouts in 14.2 innings for the team. He has done well against right-handed hitters in his career holding them to a .209 average.

It remains to be seen what Brach's role will be this year since he fares much better against righty hitters than lefty hitters. With the new three-batter rule instituted by MLB, rookie manager Carlos Beltran will have to figure out how to use Brach properly.

Mets Acquire Center Fielder Jake Marisnik from Astros

Mets Center Fielder Jake Marisnik (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com)

The New York Mets acquired center fielder Jake Marisnik from the Houston Astros today for prospects left-handed pitcher Blake Taylor and 19 year old outfielder Kenedy Corona. Taylor was originally acquired for 1B Ike Davis and was recently added to the 40-man roster in 2019. He had a 2.16 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 10.0 K/9 in 66 2/3 innings as a reliever. Corona hit .301 with 14 doubles, four homers, 19 stolen bases in his first season in pro ball in the Dominican Summer League and finished up his season with the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Marisnik is known more for his defense and hit .233 last year with 16 doubles, three triples, 10 homers, and 10 stolen bases in 318 plate appearances. He will be a free agent after this year and will make more than $3 million.