The Mets have declined their $7.75MM crew possibility on right-hander Phil Maton, in line with Jon Heyman of the New York Submit. The 31-year-old will obtain a $250K buyout and return to free company.
The choice isn’t a lot of a shock, regardless that Maton pitched fairly effectively for the membership down the stretch this season. The veteran righty posted a 2.58 ERA with a virtually equivalent 2.57 FIP in 28 2/3 innings of labor after being acquired from the Rays in early July, with a 26.5% strikeout price in opposition to a 5.3% stroll price. These wonderful numbers might have been price contemplating the $7.5MM resolution on his possibility in the event that they had been held all through the season, however that sadly was not the case.
Not solely did Maton wrestle badly within the playoffs, with an 8.53 ERA in six appearances for the Mets this season, however his transient tenure with the Rays was one thing of a catastrophe. His 4.58 ERA in 35 1/3 frames with the membership was 12% worse than league common by measure of ERA+, and his 5.63 FIP was 42% under par by measure of FIP-. He struck out simply 19.7% of batters confronted throughout his time with Tampa Bay, however much more regarding was the truth that his stroll price ballooned to 11.8% throughout that point. In all, that leaves Maton to enter free company with a platform season that casts him as a strong however unspectacular center reliever with a 3.66 ERA and 4.26 FIP in 71 appearances this yr.
That’s roughly par for the course for Maton all through his eight seasons within the majors. The precise-hander sports activities a profession ERA of 4.16 (100 ERA+) with a 4.00 FIP and a 25.9% strikeout price in opposition to a 9% stroll price. The very best season of Maton’s profession got here simply final yr with the Astros, his third season in Houston after the membership acquired him from Cleveland halfway by way of the 2021 marketing campaign within the commerce that made Myles Straw a Guardian. In 2023, Maton struck out 27% of opponents whereas strolling 9.1% en path to a 3.00 ERA in 66 innings of labor.
A membership that buys into Maton’s 2023 efficiency and his stretch run in the course of the common season with New York this yr might probably have a look at the right-hander as a late-inning possibility, though it’s attainable he’s finest suited to function a steadying, veteran presence in a bullpen like these of the Tigers, Cubs, and Rockies that has relied closely on comparatively younger and inexperienced gamers. All three of these groups determine to be available in the market for reduction assist this winter, however that can be mentioned of nearly each crew in baseball. That ought to depart Maton comfortably in place to land a giant league deal this winter, even when it doesn’t come at an AAV north of $7MM like this crew possibility would have if exercised.
As for the Mets, Edwin Diaz stays locked in because the membership’s nearer and gamers like Jose Butto, Sean Reid-Foley, and Alex Younger all impressed with the membership this yr. Whereas it wouldn’t be a shock to see them search for bullpen upgrades this winter (notably from the left aspect), they’ve already begun to make additions with their latest deal to land right-hander Dylan Covey. The signing of Covey, who has struggled within the majors however frolicked each as a reduction arm and a starter, might sign that the Mets don’t plan to spend a lot of their appreciable payroll flexibility this winter on relievers as they appear to reconstruct their rotation, retain first baseman Pete Alonso, and get into the thick of the bidding for Juan Soto.
