Star Reliever Has Received Multiple Offers; Could Mets Make Sense As Landing Spot?
Could the New York Mets have one more move up their sleeve before the 2024 season rolls around?
New York has had a solid offseason. The Mets have made a handful of additions and are in a better spot on paper than they were at the end of the 2023 campaign.
The Mets have added multiple hurlers to the starting rotation and also have signed bullpen arms like Shintaro Fujinami and Jake Diekman. It still could make sense to make another move, though.
One player who is available and will be deciding his next move soon is former Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks.
It's unclear what he will do as he will miss the beginning of the 2024 season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, but he has received multiple offers and will make his decision soon, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
"Reliever Liam Hendriks has multiple offers and has set a deadline of Thursday to sign with a team, sources tell ESPN," Passan said. "If Hendriks doesn't sign now, he would keep rehabbing from Tommy John surgery on his own and throw for teams in late July before signing for the stretch run."
The Mets have made a specific effort to improve the bullpen and it could make sense to add Hendriks. The veteran righty should be back around the trade deadline and could go a long way to help improve the Mets.
New York will have Edwin Díaz back as the club's closer after missing the 2023 season. A one-two punch of a healthy Díaz and Hendriks would be devastating back of the bullpen for opposing clubs.
