The New York Mets have officially signed Carlos Estévez, enhancing their bullpen for the upcoming season. Estévez, a veteran reliever known for his power arm and high strikeout rate, will bring added depth to the Mets’ pitching staff. Last season, Estévez demonstrated his value with a solid performance, featuring a fastball that consistently reaches the upper 90s and an effective slider.
In his previous stint with the Colorado Rockies, Estévez showed the ability to close games and handle high-leverage situations, which will be crucial for the Mets as they look to bolster their relief options. His addition is part of the Mets’ broader strategy to strengthen their roster and build a more formidable team.
Estévez’s signing aligns with the Mets’ efforts to address their bullpen issues from last year. The team faced challenges with consistency and reliability in their relief corps, often leading to late-game struggles and missed opportunities. By bringing in Estévez, the Mets are aiming to add stability and experience to their bullpen, which could make a significant difference in tight games and help the team stay competitive throughout the season.
Overall, the Mets’ acquisition of Carlos Estévez is seen as a positive move, reflecting their commitment to improving their roster and addressing key areas of need. With his experience and track record, Estévez is expected to be a valuable asset for the Mets’ pitching staff and contribute to their success in the coming season.
Klassen has had a remarkably good year in A-Ball while pitching to a 1.97 ERA. Aldegheri, from Italy, has a 3.23 ERA this year and is now pitching well in Double-A.
Many have called the price steep for a rental but good for the Phillies. What if the Mets were willing to pay the price?
What the Mets would have had to give up for Carlos Estevez
The Mets actually have two pitching prospects playing incredibly well ranked 19th and 26th in their farm system with 2026 ETAs. It doesn’t necessarily mean the Angels would make this trade but it does give a baseline.
First, there’s Jonah Tong. A seventh round pick (Klassen was a sixth-rounder), he’d fit the bill as a high-performing pitching prospect on the rise. He has a 2.55 ERA this season with some nasty stuff. His 13.2 strikeouts per 9 has helped highlight what has been a breakout year. Finding his control from averaging over a walk per inning last year has been key.
Then there’s Kade Morris who has only recently been added to the list of top Mets pitching prospects. The club’s third round pick from last season, he has a 3.51 ERA after 92.1 innings of work. Averaging more than a strikeout per 9 inning and just under 3 walks per 9, he’s the kind of lesser known prospect having a good year a team like the Angels might have interest in.
The Mets have much better pitching prospects than these two. Notably, Brandon Sproat. Neither of the Phillies players traded in this deal are ranked in the top 100 so it wouldn’t have cost him. And because so many other pitching prospects have struggled mightily in Triple-A, the Angels’ interest might just not be there.
We’ve seen a growing trend of several teams aiming for prospects a few years away rather than close to MLB-ready. Last year’s David Robertson trade for two low-level prospects gave us an early taste of this. As many prospect lists tend to do, it favors guys who aren’t brand new or drafted in the first or second round.
Tong and Morris for Estevez? Would you have done it if this was an offer the Angels accept?
