Pitcher declined Mets to chase history elsewhere

The Mets were considering signing a closer who would probably be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Mets spoke with Kenley Jansen’s camp before switching to right-hander Ryne Stanek, according to a report by MLB insiders Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The report, as reported by The Athletic, states:

Sources knowledgeable on the discussions claim that the Mets spoke with the camp of free-agent reliever Kenley Jansen. However, according to those familiar with the situation, Jansen’s target of 500 saves and his probable price tag clouded the match. Instead of pitching the ninth inning for the Mets, Jansen, 37, would set up Edwin D. Az, who needs 53 saves to reach 500.

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Mariano Rivera, the all-time saves leader with 652 saves, and Trevor Hoffman, with 601 saves, are the only two relievers in Major League Baseball to ever record 500 or more saves. With 447 saves, Jansen is presently fourth on the list, behind Lee Smith’s 478 saves.

Smith, Rivera, and Hoffman are all Hall of Famers.

Jansen has been one of the game’s most dependable relief relievers for more than 15 seasons. He has made 871 appearances with the Dodgers, Braves, and Red Sox over that time, recording a 2.57 ERA with 1,221 strikeouts over 868 1/3 innings, enough for an MLB-high 24.8 fWAR among closers.

Stanek was traded over from Seattle and signed with the Mets at the trade deadline last year. In 17 games with the Mets, he recorded 23 strikeouts and a 6.06 ERA.

In the postseason, he improved his performance, giving up just two runs in his first six appearances (eight innings). In Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series, Game 3 of the NLDS, and Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, he recorded the last outs.

Stanek faced Milwaukee in the Wild Card Series and tossed two flawless innings.

You can contact Manny G. Mez at [email protected].