Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen has been active at the annual Winter Meetings.
A day removed from reportedly signing Michael Wacha, Van Wagenen took another step to bolster the Mets' pitching staff. New York reportedly reached an agreement to sign former Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello, according to
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Free-agent right-hander Rick Porcello in agreement with #Mets on a one-year contract, pending a physical, sources tell The Athletic. On it: @enosarris.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal)
December 12, 2019 Porcello spent the previous five seasons with the Boston Red Sox, where he recorded a career-high 22 wins in 2016. He finished his Red Sox tenure 73-55 and a 4.43 ERA. According to WFAN's Jon Heyman, Porcello's deal is worth $10 million in 2020 pending a physical.
The Morristown, NJ native showcased his durability over his career. He's made at least 30 appearances over the past four seasons, recording double-digit wins over the span. Porcello, however, surrendered 107 runs in 174.1 innings during his final season with Boston.
Porcello was reportedly linked to a potential Red Sox return, with both sides having dialogue as recent as Dec. 8. Multiple reports indicated mutual interest between Porcello and the Mets, who lost Zack Wheeler to the Phillies earlier in the offseason.
The Mets have a surplus of starters with the addition of Porcello. Marcus Stroman, whom the Mets acquired at last season's trade deadline, and Wacha will both become unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2020 season. Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz are under contract until the 2022 season.
Van Wagenen is confident that his group, saying that the Mets arguably have the "deepest rotation" in baseball.
"I think championships are born by great starting pitchers," Van Wagenen said, via MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. "When we look at our rotation, we know at the top we already have guys that can be dominant pitchers throughout the course of 162 (games) but also can be impact guys in the postseason ...
"One of the priorities that we outlined very clearly was to add starting pitching depth. If we're able to complete these two deals, we've done that."
"Championships are born by great starting pitchers," Brodie Van Wagenen said, calling the Mets "probably the deepest" rotation in baseball. He breaks down the Mets' pending deals for Wacha, Porcello: pic.twitter.com/7g35HV9B65
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo)
December 12, 2019 Rosenthal reports Wacha and Porcello's arrival means the Mets could possibly explore a trade involving another starter in order to unload one of their disastrous contracts. He lists Jed Lowrie and Yoenis Cespedes as potential candidates, who could surface in discussions.
