After being released by the Atlanta Braves this year and having spent almost a month in the Arizona Diamondbacks minor league system, Alexi Ogando has exercised an opt out clause in his contract making him a free agent.  With the Mets whiffing on adding a reliever at the deadline, unless of course you count Jon Niese, the Mets should look to add Ogando.

From 2010 – 2013, Ogando was a weapon for the Rangers with his ability to pitch effectively as a starter and out of the bullpen.  In that stretch, he was 26-13 in 156 appearances and 48 starts with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.136 WHIP. In the postseason, he is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA.  Unfortunately, Ogando is not that pitcher anymore.  If he was, he wouldn’t be available.

During the 2013 season, he would have a shoulder injury, and he wouldn’t be the same pitcher.  Since that time, he has made 127 appearances over the last two and a half seasons going 7-5 with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.553 WHIP.  The main issue for Ogando has been control.  During his heyday with the Rangers, he was only walking 2.8 batters per nine innings.  Prior to his release with from the Braves, he was walking 6.5 batters per nine leading to an ugly 1.719 WHIP and his eventual release.  It was a long fall from the pitcher who was once an All Star on a team that twice came ever so close to winning a World Series.

However, Ogando is worth a risk.  He can still strike people out striking out 8.2 batters per nine innings.  He still has electric stuff throwing a 95 MPH fastball and an 85 MPH slider.  He is exactly the type of pitcher who Dan Warthen has had success helping over the course of his tenure as the Mets pitching coach.  Maybe with a couple of adjustments, Ogando can get back to being the pitcher he once was with the Rangers.

Fact is he has more upside than Erik Goeddel and his 3.66 ERA, Josh Edgin and his reduced velocity, and Seth Lugo who struggled in his last few appearances before being sent back down to the minors.  None of them has his velocity or strikeout ability.  They also don’t have his postseason success. With all of that in mind, Ogando is certainly worth a flier.  The Mets should act quickly and get him signed to a minor league deal.

At the end of the day, he could be the unlikely difference maker in the pen much like Addison Reed was for the Mets last season.