MMO Trade Profile: Middle/Low-Leverage Relievers

The New York Mets’ biggest need at this year’s deadline is undoubtedly bullpen depth. Adding an experienced, high-leverage reliever to help bridge to Edwin Díaz would be great. They could also benefit from acquiring a lower-leverage reliever who can fill a different role. I detailed some of those arms that could be of interest to the Mets ahead of the trade deadline.

DANNY COULOMBE

Position: RP B/T: L/L

Age: 35 (10/26/1989)

Contract Status: Free Agent after 2025 season

2025 Traditional Stats: 38 G, 7 GF, 7 HLD, 29 IP, 1-0, 0.93 ERA, 0.966 WHIP, 30 SO, 8 BB

2025 Advanced Stats: 458 ERA+, 26.3% SO%, 7.0% BB%, 2.95 xERA, 1.85 FIP, 3.29 xFIP, 1.6 bWAR, 1.0 fWAR

RUNDOWN

Danny Coulombe has been one of the more underrated left-handed relievers for quite some time now. Since 2020, he has been a reliable arm in the bullpen for both the Twins and the Orioles. Over the stretch, he has pitched to a 2.37 ERA across 173 appearances. After two strong seasons in the Orioles’ bullpen, Coulombe rejoined the Twins in the offseason. He previously pitched in Minnesota from 2020 to 2022. It’s safe to say that his performances from seasons prior have absolutely carried over.

Among pitchers with at least 20 innings thrown this season, Coulombe has the second-lowest ERA. Only the San Francisco Giants’ Randy Rodríguez (0.84 ERA) has been better. Coulombe is also one of five pitchers who have thrown that many innings and have yet to give up a home run. 6.2 hits allowed per nine and 2.5 walks allowed per nine are well below his numbers for his career.

Coulombe doesn’t throw particularly hard. His average velocity on the four-seam fastball is 90.2 MPH. He used four pitches regularly, including a cutter, a sweeper, a sinker, and a four-seam fastball. Opponents have a batting average below .200 against all of those pitches except the sinker. With the Twins on the outside looking in, an impending free agent in Coulombe is likely to be moved.

JAKE BIRD

Position: RP B/T: R/R

Age: 29 (12/04/1995)

Contract Status: Free Agent after 2028 season

2025 Traditional Stats: 43 G, 5 GF, 10 HLD, 52 1/3 IP, 3-1, 3.96 ERA, 1.395 WHIP, 61 SO, 21 BB

2025 Advanced Stats: 119 ERA+, 26.9% SO%, 9.3% BB%, 3.39 xERA, 3.13 FIP, 3.31 xFIP, 1.0 bWAR, 0.9 fWAR

RUNDOWN

Jake Bird has been a solid reliever for the Rockies since debuting in 2022. He has had some strong stretches in their bullpen, none better than at the start of this season. Over his first 28 appearances, Bird pitched to an impressive 1.41 ERA. Just one home run allowed over a stretch of 38 1/3 innings. On plenty of occasions, Bird was able to enter in difficult situations and limit the damage.

The last month and change has gone much worse for him. Since June 13, Bird has pitched to a 10.93 ERA across 15 appearances. His elevated ERA is partly down to himself, but the defense behind him has not helped either. During that stretch, Bird has a 5.81 FIP. Certainly not good, but the stark difference between that and his ERA is a knock on the position players. Ironically, he has pitched significantly better at Coors Field. Owns a 2.48 ERA at home versus a 5.79 ERA on the road. Similar sample size as well.

Bird throws three pitches nearly 97% of the time: a sweeper, a sinker, and a curveball. His curveball, slightly slower than his sweeper, has been his most effective weapon in 2025. Opponents are hitting .157 with a .157 slugging percentage and a 38.5% whiff rate against it. The Rockies are reportedly taking offers on the struggling Bird, even with the years of control. Curious to see what the package looks like.

REID DETMERS

Position: RP B/T: L/L

Age: 26 (07/08/1999)

Contract Status: Free Agent after 2028 season

2025 Traditional Stats: 42 G, 6 GF, 9 HLD, 2 SV, 45 1/3 IP, 3-2, 4.17 ERA, 1.390 WHIP, 55 SO, 19 BB

2025 Advanced Stats: 103 ERA+, 28.5% SO%, 9.8% BB%, 3.24 xERA, 3.20 FIP, 3.17 xFIP, 0.9 bWAR, 0.7 fWAR

RUNDOWN

Reid Detmers was drafted by the Angels with the 10th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. The hope was that he would rise up the system and eventually become a frontline starter in their rotation. To this point, it has not materialized that way. Detmers made 75 big league starts from 2021 till 2024. He went 16-28 with a 4.90 ERA across 385 2/3 innings. A significant sample size. After pitching to a 6.70 ERA in 17 starts last season, the Angels decided to pivot, at least in the short term. Detmers was put in the bullpen.

Initially, that transition could not have gone much worse. At the end of May, Detmers owned a 6.56 ERA across 20 relief appearances. Pitching for an inning or two in the middle of a game appeared uncomfortable for him. But Detmers has done a complete 180. Since the start of June, he has a 1.64 ERA across 22 innings. Detmers has also yet to surrender a walk in the month of July. Night and day compared to his outings early in the year.

With Detmers pitching in shorter spurts, his velocity has ticked up on both the four-seam fastball and the slider. Last season, the average velocity on those pitches was 93.8 MPH and 86.2 MPH. This season, they are up to 95.6 MPH and 88.5 MPH. Detmers’ curveball has been an effective weapon as well. With the Angels hanging around in the American League Wild Card chase, being sellers seems unlikely. Acquiring Detmers would likely require some version of an overpay.

CALEB FERGUSON

Position: RP B/T: R/L

Age: 29 (07/02/1996)

Contract Status: Free Agent after 2025 season

2025 Traditional Stats: 43 G, 2 GF, 9 HLD, 41 1/3 IP, 2-2, 3.92 ERA, 1.137 WHIP, 33 SO, 14 BB

2025 Advanced Stats: 110 ERA+, 19.4% SO%, 8.2% BB%, 3.02 xERA, 3.19 FIP, 4.21 xFIP, 0.5 bWAR, 0.6 fWAR

RUNDOWN

Caleb Ferguson signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates after spending time with the Astros and the Yankees in 2024. He got off to a fantastic start, owning a 1.88 ERA at the end of April. He has pitched well since, for the most part, although six earned runs allowed over his last 1 1/3 innings pitched have spiked his numbers significantly.

While the strikeouts are down at 7.2 per nine, he has managed to move in the right direction with the long ball. Ferguson is allowing 0.2 home runs per nine, well below his 0.9 home runs allowed per nine for his career. With his FIP at 3.19, it can be said Ferguson has had some bad luck hurt him at times.

With the Pirates bound to sell given their place in the standings, a few arms in their bullpen will be moved. Ferguson should be one of the cheaper lefties on the market, given where his numbers are at while factoring in his impending free agency.

RECOMMENDATION

Coulombe is a good fit for the Mets for a few reasons. First, adding a lefty to pair alongside Brooks Raley would benefit the veteran coming off such a significant injury. Second, Coulombe is on an expiring deal, so the return shouldn’t be too significant. The Twins are likely going to sell a few of their relievers, most of whom are garnering interest all across the league. Coulombe is one of them, and he would be a great fit with the Mets.

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