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Relief pitcher Brad Brach went through his normal workout routine Thursday morning with a close friend and now former teammate Steven matz, which the Mets traded to the Toronto Blue Jays the day before in exchange for three prospects.
Unsurprisingly, Brach and Matz discussed the elephant in the room as Matz was traded for the first time in his career by the only team he had ever known in the Mets.
“It’s kind of the first time he knows someone really wants him out there,” Brach told Metsmerized in an exclusive phone interview. “Not so much that the Mets didn’t want him, but it’s always nice to know you’re wanted elsewhere and it will be a good reminder for Steve.
Matz was drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft. The Long Island native reached the big leagues with the Amazins in 2015 at the age of 24 and helped them reach the World Series, completing a dominant rotation which consisted of Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and fellow recruit Noah syndergaard.
The southpaw was supposed to be a high-end starter, but injuries and inconsistencies prevented what was supposed to be a stellar career with the Mets. In six seasons in Queens, Matz had a 31-41 record in 107 starts while pitching an ERA of 4.35 and FIP of 4.49. He also struggled with the long ball, allowing a total of 96 home runs. Last season, Matz suffered the worst year of his tenure in the major league, going 0-5 with a 9.68 ERA and dropping 14 homers in 30.2 innings.
Like Matz, Brach had a similar experience with the San Diego Padres, who drafted him in 2008 and had extremely high expectations once he hit the show.
“I felt like they just kept waiting for something else to come and it never got to this point,” Brach said. “That’s what I noticed with Steve. When the same eyes have seen the same pitcher for so long it’s hard to make any changes so I think he needs some new eyes on him. It has everything you would want in a left handed starter.
Brach ended up being traded to the Orioles in 2013 and ultimately brought it all together later in his career, becoming an All-Star for Baltimore in 2016.
The Freehold, New Jersey native believes that a change of scenery might be exactly what the doctor ordered Matz to do, as he can now start doing whatever makes him successful.
“I told Steve I was an yes man at the start of my career,” Brach said. “You can’t please people too much. You need to figure out what works for you before you do what everyone else wants. “
Although the Mets chose to bid Matz earlier this offseason for $ 5.2 million, the negotiator has that salary taken off the books this year. This could potentially pave the way for Steve Cohen and co. sign Cy young prize winner Trevor Bauer, with whom they have been strongly linked recently.
If the Mets added Bauer to their starting rotation, Brach believes that would have a huge effect on the pickup box as well.
“Obviously, adding someone like that strengthens your rotation, which puts less pressure on the bullpen,” he said.
After battling COVID-19 last summer, Brach had a tough season for the Mets, filled with ‘starts and stops’, where he posted a career-worst 5.84 ERA while also achieving 14 steps in 12.1 innings. But the 34-year-old says he’s ready to spend the last year in the rearview mirror as his arm was admittedly deformed due to the unorthodox circumstances brought on by the pandemic.
Brach says he’s someone who takes advantage of the stress on his arm because it helps strengthen him as the season progresses. He also said it was the best his arm has felt in years and that he expects to return to his normal speed of 94-95 mph, which he couldn’t reach until then. a season.
The veteran right-hander has launched a new Mets wide receiver James mccann this offseason, with whom he has built chemistry in recent years. And given their vast experience together, Brach’s familiarity with McCann could contribute to a 2021 rebound campaign.
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