Mets Making Moves
New York adds Kevin Pillar, Taijuan Walker on the radar
The New York Mets are showing signs of life for the first time in weeks. That’s probably an exaggeration, but an encouraging development, nonetheless.
The Mets added veteran center fielder Kevin Pillar to the roster on a one-year contract on Monday, adding to the team’s outfield depth with camp set to open on Wednesday in Port St. Lucie.
Pillar, 32, has bounced around the league since 2019 after spending the first six-plus seasons of his MLB career with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Since 2019, the former 32nd-round draft pick (2011) has hit .266/.300/.440 with 27 homers, a 15.0% strikeout rate, 89 wRC+, and 2.5 wins above replacement (FanGraphs). Playable, for sure.
He hit lefties well in 2019 (nine home runs, .823 OPS in 174 PA) and continued that trend in 2020, slashing .342/.390/.579 with four dingers in 82 plate appearances versus southpaws.
Pillar showed the ability to hit righties for power, as well in 2019 (12 homers in 449 PA, albeit with a .681 OPS), but those numbers against left-handers are impressive.
His defensive statistics in centerfield, once a hallmark facet of his game, have weakened in recent years. Pillar hasn’t posted a positive metric in centerfield via Statcast’s OAA since 2018 (+13 OAA from 2016 through 2018; -3 OAA in CF since).
Albert Almora’s presence makes the addition a bit puzzling, but depth can never hurt. Almora, 26, also has a minor league option remaining. Roster flexibility — no, not the Red Sox brand of roster flexibility — is always a plus.
Image via Keith Allison
According to Mike Mayer of Metsmerized Online, the Mets have also been in touch with right-handed starter Taijuan Walker.
Following his trade from Seattle to Arizona ahead of the 2017 season, Walker, 28, shone that season, pitching to 3.49 ERA with 146 strikeouts and 61 walks over 28 starts (157.1 innings) for the Diamondbacks.
His ascent would be stopped in its tracks. Walker underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2018 and missed all but one appearance of the 2019 season.
After latching back on with the M’s last winter, Walker got back to work. Over 11 starts with the Mariners and Blue Jays (mid-season trade) in 2020, Walker owned a 2.70 ERA (4.56 FIP) with 50 punchouts in 53.1 innings.
Back-end rotational depth should be a key focus point of the Mets’ front office heading down the stretch of the offseason.
Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, and Carlos Carrasco provide a strong front-three while the team awaits Noah Syndergaard’s return from his UCL surgery.
Spring competition for those two back spots will certainly be lively with David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi, Jordan Yamamoto, and Sean Reid-Foley all having varying degrees of major league experience and appealing respective metrics to lean on.
Though, another proven weapon would be a no-nonsense type of move.
Mets acting GM Zack Scott told the team’s media corps last week that he’s a subscriber to the old adage, “you can never have enough good pitching”.
We concur.
As always, remember to sign up for our free email list! Every article, in your inbox upon publishing.