Pitcher Tyler Clippard is one of the hottest names on the free-agent market among relievers and is sure to have no shortage of interest from teams this winter.
Continue for updates.
Mets, Several Teams Expressing Interest in Clippard
Tuesday, Dec. 15
According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the New York Mets “haven’t ruled out” bringing back Clippard, while the Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers are “seeking relief help” and could be in pursuit of the pitcher.
As Crasnick noted, however, the fact that Clippard remains unsigned to this point is a bit curious:
That workload appeared to take some juice off of his fastball, and Clippard had some struggles down the stretch. He also struggled to command his changeup at points, as John Harper of the New York Daily News pointed out:
Still, in a weak pool of relievers, Clippard will find a home.
“Considering the terrible contracts being given to relievers, he’ll get his money,” one anonymous executive told Crasnick. “He’s too good not to.”
Clippard, 30, finished 5-4 with a 2.92 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, 19 saves and 64 strikeouts in 2015. He was solid overall for the Mets after being acquired from the Oakland Athletics in July, settling into the setup man role in the eighth inning.
His versatility is a major plus for prospective teams, as Clippard can serve as the closer if called upon to do so, as he did in Oakland. He is arguably the top reliever left on the market and would certainly be a major contributor to a contending team looking to shore up the late innings.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com