Healthy Former NL East Rival Pitcher Could Offer Mets Depth

The New York Mets have plenty of options in the starting rotation, but this former Atlanta veteran could give them more experience.

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has done a good job of rebuilding the team’s bullpen this offseason. The pitching staff could still use some help.

The Mets’ goals of spending money didn’t go as planned, especially when it came to pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. But a veteran pitcher is now healthy and on the market, and he’s one the Mets could turn to if they want more depth in the starting rotation in spring training.

MLB Network reported on Monday that Jake Odorizzi, who missed all of last season due to an injury and surgery, is healthy and throwing without restrictions as the rest of baseball heads to Arizona and Florida for spring training.

The report didn’t link particular teams to Odorizzi. But the fact that the former All-Star pitcher is healthy is notable in that he would be depth for a starting rotation.

He’s been on a normal throwing program this offseason and has already thrown off a mound for a dozen MLB teams as he searches for a contract this spring.

The right-hander has an arm the Mets could theoretically use.

Kodai Senga will anchor the rotation after a season in which he was a finalist for NL Rookie of the Year. But, from there, the Mets have a lot of options that may or may not make a final rotation. That include Luis Severino, José Quintana, Sean Manaea, Adrian Houser, Tylor Megill, José Butto, David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi. Peterson is not an option for the first half of the season due to injury.

Odorizzi might be a good veteran fit for this group.

Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1st round of the 2008 MLB Draft, Odorizzi has 10 years of MLB experience since his debut in 2012 with the Kansas City Royals. He followed that with stints with Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Houston and Atlanta.

He made his only All-Star Game appearance in 2019 with Minnesota, where he had a career-high 15 wins. He’s 74-69 for his career with a 3.99 ERA.

Odorizzi missed all of last season when he had an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right shoulder last April. At the time he was with the Texas Rangers, and it was hoped he would contribute to their rotation. He spent the entire season on the Rangers’ injured list as the franchise won its first World Series.

Before his shoulder surgery he proved to be durable, making 30 or more starts in four different seasons.