Mets Sign Lefty Reliever Alex Claudio
Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Baseball America reports that the Mets have Alex Claudio to a minor league deal in their latest roundup of transactions.
Claudio, 29, pitched to a 5.51 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 32 2/3 innings for the Angels during the 2021 season. He also had a career-worst 4.1 walks per nine innings and gave up six home runs in that span. His expected stats were a bit better in 2021 with a 4.76 expected ERA.
The funky lefty started off his big league career strong with the Rangers when he had a 3.20 ERA over five seasons before getting traded to the Brewers. In two seasons with the Brewers, Claudio had a 4.11 ERA and led baseball with 83 appearances in 2019.
Both righties and lefties had an OPS over .800 against Claudio in 2021, but he’s lefties to a minuscule .596 OPS in his career.
Claudio is a soft-tossing lefty with a fastball that mostly sits in the 85 mph range. He also throws a sweeping slider (think Jerry Blevins) and a changeup, with his breaking ball being the best of the group in 2021 as it held opponents to a .223 wOBA.
The Mets have a big need for lefty pitchers given that Thomas Szapucki, David Peterson, and Joey Lucchesi are the only three left-handers on the 40-man roster, and all three finished the 2021 season on the injured list following surgeries. Szapucki and Peterson are expected to be healthy for Spring Training, while Lucchesi could miss at least half the season after having Tommy John surgery.
Baseball America also reports that the Mets have re-signed right-hander Stephen Nogosek to a minor league deal. Nogosek was non-tendered by the Mets back in November.
Nogosek allowed two runs in three innings during his only big league outing in 2021 for the Mets. The former sixth round pick of the Red Sox had a 5.14 ERA in Triple-A Syracuse, though he struck out 52 batters in 35 innings.
Lastly, Baseball America reported that former Mets right-handed pitcher Corey Oswalt has signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. The Mets seventh round pick from 2012 was outrighted and then elected free agency in October.
Oswalt posted a 3.48 ERA in 10 1/3 innings for the Mets last season.
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