The New York Mets are losing Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker from their 2022 rotation.
That’s more than half of the formerly dominant unit.
While they may still retain some or all of those names, it puts them in a difficult position when it comes to things to address in the offseason.
A fourth name could have joined the list of free agents, but the Mets are opting to bring back veteran starter Carlos Carrasco by picking up his option.
“The Mets are picking up Carlos Carrasco’s $14 million club option, Billy Eppler said,” MLB insider Robert Murray tweeted.
The Mets are picking up Carlos Carrasco’s $14 million club option, Billy Eppler said.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) November 10, 2022
Paying $14 million to a pitcher with a checkered injury history who will be 36 by the time the 2022 season starts may seem like a lot, but again, the Mets probably couldn’t afford to lose another member of the rotation.
Carrasco Gives The Rotation Some Stability
They need sure things, certainties, and Carrasco gives them another one besides Max Scherzer, David Peterson, and Tylor Megill.
In addition to that, Carrasco was very good this past season when healthy.
He left behind a difficult 2021 to post a solid 3.97 ERA in 152 innings.
His 3.53 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), however, was much better and a good omen for his 2023 performance.
If he remains healthy (which is a big if, to be fair), Carrasco is capable of putting up a mid-3.00s ERA in 150-160 innings with a very low WHIP, and the Mets rotation needs all the good, quality pitchers they can handle.
The job is far from finished when it comes to the rotation: at least one of the deGrom-Bassitt-Walker trio will probably return, and the likeliest scenario has two of them coming back to Queens.
He may be generating a lot of interest, but it’s hard to see the Mets getting outbid for deGrom.
NEXT: Video Shows The Elite Evolution Of Jacob deGrom