Mets signing former division rival pitcher

Mar 26, 2022; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; The New York Mets logo stands in center field before the game against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

After nearly a decade, one veteran reliever is back in the NL East.

Will Sammon of The Athletic reported on Thursday that the New York Mets are signing lefty bullpen arm Jake Diekman. The 37-year-old Diekman was a free agent after spending last season with the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

Diekman began his career elsewhere in the division with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012. Since then, he has pitched on seven different MLB teams, most recently posting a 3.34 ERA in 64 total relief appearances in 2023. While Diekman struggles with a high walk rate at times, he can also miss bats with the best of them, owning a career tally of 11.4 strikeouts per nine.

The Mets had been hunting for low-cost lefty relievers and were recently linked to a former New Yankees rival (though he has since signed with the San Diego Padres). Diekman is a very strong fallback option though and will now be one of the top southpaws in the Mets bullpen next to Brooks Raley.