The New York Mets bullpen has a 3.80 ERA this season. While they are not among the worst teams in the league, there is room for improvement.
Closer Edwin Díaz has a 1.75 ERA and 18 saves on the season. He has blown just one save and has been a reliable closer. However, the Mets could be in the market for another daunting arm in the backend of their bullpen to pair with Díaz.
There could be some great options available at the trade deadline for the Mets if they are willing to be aggressive. FanSided's Tim Boyle suggested the Mets could trade for Félix Bautista of the Baltimore Orioles.
Bautista has a 2.48 ERA this season and 17 saves. He missed all of last season, but in 2023, he was the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year. He was also an All-Star that season. Lately, he has looked just as dominant. Since the calendar flipped to June, he has a 0.64 ERA and is perfect in seven save opportunities.
Bautista would not be cheap. He is under club control through 2027, but could be a replacement for Díaz should he opt out of his five-year, $102 million deal. As far as this season goes, he could serve as a setup man for Díaz and give Carlos Mendoza another option to close games if Díaz is unavailable.
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"If the Orioles are selling Bautista, expect every buyer to check in," wrote Boyle. "He’d completely change the complexion of the Mets bullpen now and in the future. With Edwin Diaz possibly opting out after this season, he’d be an automatic replacement just in case Sugar decides to sign elsewhere."
Bautista has an electric fastball and is a tough matchup for hitters. He has allowed just a .34 batting average this season, which is the best mark of his career.
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