Mets, Jake Diekman in contract talks, source confirms
In what is likely the Mets’ final move before spring training, they are expected to finalize a deal with Jake Diekman, a source confirmed on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. Credit: Getty Images
The Mets’ offseason search for a lefthanded reliever is nearing completion as they are expected to finalize a deal with Jake Diekman, a source confirmed Thursday. Beyond that, president of baseball operations David Stearns likely is prepared to embark on his first spring training with the current roster, even though a handful of impact free agents remain on the market.
Diekman was another box to check, a lefthander for a Mets bullpen that returns All-Star closer Edwin Diaz after a season lost to his WBC knee injury. Stearns brought back Adam Ottavino last weekend on a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, a bargain considering that the reliever previously turned down his own $6.75 million option.
As for Diekman, 37, the 12-year veteran could turn out to be a productive February find for the Mets. He shed an early 7.94 ERA (13 appearances) last season with the White Sox for a post-trade 2.18 ERA after being dealt to the Rays, for whom he had a 10.5 K/9 ratio in 45 1/3 innings in 50 games. The Mets’ talks with Diekman appeared to accelerate after former Yankees lefthander Wandy Peralta signed a four-year deal worth $16.5 million with the Padres on Wednesday.
While the Mets have pushed for mid-range depth (with potential high upside) on the pitching front, they have yet to enlist any high-caliber options for DH, an obvious area of need. As of Thursday, J.D. Martinez and Jorge Soler were available, along with bargain options such as Brandon Belt and Joey Votto.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that owner Steve Cohen has been tighter with spending this offseason, aside from a $325 million offer to Yoshinobu Yamamoto that was rejected in favor of the Dodgers. Cohen telegraphed his intentions after last year’s trade deadline, but the Mets still have the sport’s highest payroll — projected at roughly $322 million for luxury tax purposes, according to FanGraphs — with a significant chunk being paid in last season’s effort to restock the farm system.
Extra bases
The Mets announced their list of spring training invites (for players not on the 40-man roster), including pitchers Dominican Hamel, Nate Lavender, Eric Orze, Christian Scott and Mike Vasil, catchers Tomas Nido, Kevin Parada and Hayden Singer, outfielder Drew Gilbert and infielder Jett Williams . . . Carlos Carrasco, who went 19-20 with a 5.21 ERA in 61 starts during his three years with the Mets, is returning to Cleveland after signing a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
