Photo Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2019 Getty Image
As we inch closer to Opening Day, (hopefully) the Met roster is taking shape.
Purposefully.
EDITORS NOTE: When we first started writing this article, the goal was to release it Monday night.
Well, since then, we fired our general managers and George Springer signed signed with Toronto.
Now that we let those stories breathe a little bit we can get into the Lucchesi trade.
Depth, depth, depth. It’s not always flashy, but—as Mets fans have seen over the years—it’s so vitally important. The Lucchesi addition is just another smart, solid move by this front office.
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) January 19, 2021
Let’s talk Joey Lucchesi.
You may remember him. Left-handed pitcher. Real funky delivery. Mets never really had an answer for him in the two times they faced him, losing both contests.
https://twitter.com/genymets/status/1351319736865468417?s=19
He is 27 years old and is under team control through the 2024 season. Lucchesi has two minor league options remaining which gives the Mets a ton of flexibility.
Mets view LHP Joey Lucchesi as a depth starter, possible swing man between rotation and bullpen. Mets’ front five currently is deGrom, Carrasco, Stroman, Peterson and Matz, with Lugo likely in bullpen.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 19, 2021
In 59 appearances for the Padres, Lucchesi has a 4.21 ERA and 4.21 FIP over the course of 299.1 innings.
The jury is still out on Lucchesi. Again, as stated above, he hasn’t even pitched 300 innings in his career. But an ERA a tick over 4? That’s pretty much what is out there on the free agent market.
The Mets did send 20 year old Endy Rodriguez in the deal who has a ton of potential. But I love the calculated risk here by trading a prospect for a pitcher with 4 years of team control.
Lucchesi spent most of 2020 in the Padres’ alternate site and was ineffective when he was with the big club for 3 appearances, pitching to a 7.94 ERA.
Let’s look at 2019.
The Mets identified some promise here and I think his addition will pay dividends.
I hope that, barring any further acquisitions, a backend trio of Peterson, Matz and Lucchesi can be serviceable until Noah Syndergaard returns.
Furthermore, I hope that Seth Lugo can return to the bullpen where he is most effective, pitching to a 2.53 ERA over 188.2 innings.
VERDICT: 👍