The New York Mets are poised to enter the All-Star break holding the final wild-card spot and boasting a 49-46 record, a position that seemed unattainable at the end of May.
Despite their recent success, the Mets’ bullpen, once a strong point, has become a liability due to injuries and underperformance from key players.
President of baseball operations David Stearns has started to bolster the bullpen by trading for Matt Gage, who is currently with Triple-A Syracuse but expected to join the bullpen soon, and Phil Maton, who has already made two appearances for the team.
However, more reinforcements are needed, and one potential option is acquiring a recently designated former elite reliever.
The Mets should consider trading for Nick Anderson.
On Saturday, the Kansas City Royals enhanced their bullpen by acquiring Hunter Harvey from the Washington Nationals, which led to Nick Anderson being designated for assignment to make room on the roster.
This season, Anderson has pitched 35.2 innings across 37 appearances, recording a 4.04 ERA, a 1.402 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts. He has also registered two holds and a save.
Since his debut in 2019, Anderson has been one of the more reliable relievers, pitching 158.1 innings across 165 appearances with a 3.18 ERA, a 1.093 WHIP, and 202 strikeouts.
Why Anderson would make sense for the Mets:
Acquiring Anderson would be a smart move for the Mets. Despite being designated for assignment, the 34-year-old has still produced solid numbers this season and would strengthen the Mets’ bullpen.
Furthermore, acquiring him after being DFA’d would likely be a low-cost move, fitting Stearns’ recent strategy of acquiring high-upside pitchers at a minimal cost.
Time will tell if the Mets acquire Anderson, but with their bullpen in need of help, they should seriously consider the 34-year-old.
