Free Agent Profile: Scott Alexander, RP

Scott Alexander, RP

Position: RP B/T: L/L
Age: 35 (07/10/1989)

2024 Traditional Stats: 45 G, 38 2/3 IP, 2.56 ERA, 1.190 WHIP, 1-3, 31 SO, 15 BB
2024 Advanced Stats: 155 ERA+, 19.4 K%, 9.4 BB%, 3.97 xERA, 3.89 FIP, 3.94 xFIP, 0.1 fWAR, 1.2 bWAR

Rundown

Scott Alexander, 35, has consistently been a reliable option out of the bullpen for every team he’s suited up for. Originally drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2007 out of high school, he opted instead to attend Sonoma State University, where his talent continued to draw attention. The Royals selected him in the sixth round of the 2010 draft, recognizing his potential as a left-handed specialist capable of getting opposing lefties out at the major league level.

The Royals promoted Alexander in September 2015, but he didn’t secure a consistent role out of the bullpen until 2017when he impressed with a 2.48 ERA over 69 innings. After being traded to the Dodgers in 2018, he continued to succeed, tallying 21 holds and a 3.68 ERA across 66 innings. Unfortunately, injuries limited his innings to just 45 from 2019 to 2021, though he maintained a commendable 3.16 ERA.

After leaving the Dodgers, Alexander joined the division rival Giants on a minor league deal, recording a 3.70 ERA and a 3.16 FIP across 65 2/3 innings in 2022 and 2023. He then signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Athletics for 2024. Despite missing 73 days due to injury, Alexander excelled when healthy, posting a 2.45 ERA in 38 2/3 innings.

Alexander’s primary strength is his exceptional ability to induce ground balls, as evidenced by his career ground ball rate of 67.9%, well above the MLB average of 44.4%. This skill also helps minimize home runs, reflected by an impressive 0.6 HR/9 in his career. Furthermore, Alexander provides excellent splits versus lefties. Lefties have managed only a .211/.266/.298 slash line against him during his time in the league. In 2024, he was even more dominant, holding lefties to a remarkable .161/.209/.210 line. His performance when facing righties, however, was problematic, as they hit .273/.374/.442 against him in 2024.

Alexander has also shown signs of decline, with his hard-hit percentage rising from 33.9% in 2023 to 44.6% in 2024. Additionally, his ability to limit walks faltered last season, evidenced by his troubling 9.4% walk rate.

His pitch arsenal consists of a sinker, slider, and changeup. While Baseball Savant briefly classified one of his pitches as a four-seamer for a few years, he has primarily relied on these three offerings. Alexander has reduced his sinker usage, throwing it just 64.5% of the time in 2024, compared to over 80% from 2017 to 2020. His slider is his better secondary pitch, as batters only managed a measly .069 batting average against it in 2024.

Contract

Now entering his eleventh year, the 35-year-old Alexander will likely have to settle for a one-year pact. The amount he might get, however, could be more up in the air. While he could surpass Hoby Milner’s one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Rangers, that figure isn’t a guaranteed baseline. Alexander’s results haven’t surpassed Milner’s by much, especially considering Milner’s standout 1.82 ERA just two years ago and younger age. However, the $2.5 million mark seems like a good indicator of what Alexander might land this offseason.

Recommendation

Given that he won’t come with a hefty price tag, Alexander is a viable bullpen arm for the Mets, who desperately need a left-handed reliever. Danny Young is their only internal option on the big league roster.

Brandon Waddell and Génesis Cabrera are two other potential options for depth. That said, a signing isn’t imminent due to the slow-moving reliever market. Expect Stearns to be somewhat active in this area at some point, even though he’snot known for heavy investments in bullpen arms.

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