New York Mets Trade Rumors 2016: Antonio Bastardo Given Two-Year, $12 Million Deal
The New York Mets are far from done this offseason, and it looks like they're focused on improving their bullpen depth with the news of signing Antonio Bastardo to a $12 million, two-year contract. The veteran reliever will be joining his new team after spending time with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season.
Most teams coming off a stint in the World Series won't bother tweaking their roster come next season, but not the Mets. They may have spent the offseason making minor moves and spending less than other teams, but they aren't sitting idly. After adding Asdrubal Cabrera and Neil Walker, they now have someone who may not be an expensive asset but can somehow provide immediate impact.
In his stint with the Pirates last season, Bastardo finished with a 4-1 record, producing a 2.98 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He also had one save and nine holds. Before that last year's lone season with the Pirates, he spent the bulk of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. His deal with the Mets is a proof that the team is doing away with long-term contracts, at least in the meantime. It is widely believed that the team is keeping its core for another run at the title after falling short last season in the World Series against the Kansas City Royals.
Signing Bastardo to a short-term deal makes perfect sense, though, because the 30-year-old will become an experiment for the Mets for the time being. There is no guarantee that the relief pitcher can perform at the highest level, given that he has not produced more than one win in a single season. His ERA since 2010 has not been lower than 3.94. His greatest enemy in a Mets uniform is expected to be the same with the previous two teams he played for, and that is inconsistency.
Nonetheless, his addition to the team may be an indication that Addison Reed will be relegated to a seventh-inning role.
