Met for next season on 1-year, $5M deal
Gsellman, Rosario and others before each player can file for arbitration.
Shreve, 30, served a vital innings-eater role for the Mets in 2020 and it was somewhat surprising that the team opted to let him become a free agent. The only lefty in the bullpen, Shreve hurled a 3.96 ERA over 25 innings and 17 relief appearances. Many of his outings provided stability; Shreve gave up one or no runs in 14 of his 17 outings in his debut season with the Amazin’s. The multi-inning reliever, who was out of options and due about $2 million in 2021, came with an inexpensive contract to potentially tender. Ultimately the decision to non-tender Shreve may have been the result of a cramped bullpen, particularly after the acquisition of Trevor May.
Matz, 29, suffered a lost year in 2020 but it always made sense for the Mets to bring him back in 2021 for just north of $5 million. Matz gave up 33 runs in 30.2 innings between the rotation and his demotion to the bullpen.
His career-worst 9.68 ERA often had Matz at a loss for words or inspiration throughout his doomed 60-game season. The Mets will keep Matz as a depth option while pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, if he remains a part of Luis Rojas’ coaching staff, will attempt to restore the southpaw’s early-career numbers – like the 3.16 ERA he posted across his first 28 major-league starts. Gsellman, 27, will return for his sixth year in Queens following a forgettable 2020 season. The right-handed reliever is estimated to earn about $1.4 million in his second year of arbitration in 2021. It’s tough to evaluate Gsellman’s 2020 season between his injury stints, brief shift to the rotation and only six games pitched. After recovering from a right triceps injury to start the year, the righthander was stretched out to join the rotation for four starts. His season ended early with a fractured rib and a 9.64 ERA across 14 innings. He was hardly set up for success in 2020, and the Mets hope a clean slate will help their bullpen depth.