Kyle Farnsworth signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets, with an invite to Spring Training. The veteran right-hander will turn 38 in April. Over 15 seasons with seven different teams Farnsworth has compiled a 4.26 ERA with strikeout and walk rates of 22.8 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively.
A former 47th round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs, Farnsworth has long had a reputation as a hard-throwing reliever with a fiery attitude. He’s alternated between dominance and shakiness for much of his career. In 2001 for the Cubs he posted a 2.81 ERA with a 31.6 percent strikeout rate. The next season he was lit up to the tune of a 7.33 ERA.
The Yankees signed him to a lucrative contract, but after two and a half seasons with a 4.33 ERA, they had enough and shipped him to the Detroit Tigers for Ivan Rodriguez. He rehabilitated his career the next season with the Royals.
Overall, it was his lowest strikeout rate since his rookie season of 1999 when he was primarily a starting pitcher, and his fastball velocity of 92.6 miles per hour represented a significant drop from previous seasons.
Still, the Mets are hoping that Farnsworth can recapture the dominance he showed just two seasons ago when he pitched to a 2.16 ERA with a 22.1 percent strikeout rate for Tampa Bay.
Farnsworth’s fastball has kept him in the game for a long time. If he is healthy enough to recapture the mid 90’s velocity he had only two seasons prior, he could be a nice addition to the Mets pen. If not, his days in the majors may be over.
