Perhaps it wasn’t exactly the big-name free agent signed (I.E. Yoenis Cespedes), but the New York Mets made an important move as they signed relief pitcher Antonio Bastardo to a two-year, $12 million contract.
The 30-year-old lefthanded reliever has the chance to be an integral part of the team’s bullpen.
One of the best (and only) lefties remaining on the market, Bastardo posted a 4-1 record to go along with a 2.98 ERA, 1.134 WHIP and 64 strikeouts in 57.1 innings last season for the Pirates.
It’s also worth noting that he held lefties to an embarassing .138 batting average last year.
The main knock against Bastardo is his command, he walked 26 batters last season, which averages out to 4.1 per 9 innings.
Bastardo joins Jerry Blevins and Addison Reed as high quality relievers in front of closer Jeurys Familia
“He’s got an excellent breaking ball,” a National League scout said Wednesday night. “When he locates and keeps the ball down, he can dominate lefties and righties.”
It would be selling Antonio Bastardo short to simply call him a lefty specialist. in 2015 he held righties to a .210 batting average while allowing just 39 hits in his 57 innings of work.
