What could have been.
The New York Mets made a two-year offer with a club option worth between $8-10 million per season to left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta, according to SNY insider Andy Martino.
Instead, Peralta signed a four-year, $16.5 million deal with the San Diego Padres that includes three opt-outs.
As a result, the Mets have quickly pivoted to another lefty in Jake Diekman, who they are nearing a deal with. Per Martino, it is a one-year pact with similar annual figures to Peralta, and has a vesting option tied to it.
In Diekman, the Mets are getting a reliever who changed his delivery last season and saw results after being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. The southpaw was able to throw more strikes and posted a 2.18 ERA for Tampa.
Now, the Mets have a bullpen that features elite closer Edwin Diaz, Diekman, Adam Ottavino, Drew Smith, Brooks Raley and 2022 All-Star Jorge Lopez, who they took a flier on after a down year.
While Peralta, a former Yankee, would have been a solid addition to the Mets' bullpen, Diekman is a serviceable fall back option.
As Martino also reported, the Mets could "quite possibly" be finished for the offseason after the Diekman deal is finalized. This means they will most likely not land a DH or insurance at third base for Brett Baty.
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