The Mets made their first major acquisition at the deadline, and while it’s not quite Juan Soto, it addresses a hole on offense. The club acquired first baseman/designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for relief pitcher Collin Holderman, giving the team a left-handed hitter option it lacked this year.
Vogelbach’s straight offensive numbers this season have been solid, as the veteran slugger has hit a .228/.338/.430 slash line with 12 homers and a 118 wRC+ in 278 plate appearances. However, the true value he offers the Mets becomes clear when you look at his platoon breakdown, as Vogelbach – a left-handed hitter – has destroyed right-handed pitchers to the tune of a 133 wRC+ while only putting up a measly 33 wRC+ against lefties . As such, it stands to reason that he would serve as the left side of a DH platoon, with either JD Davis or (in a more ideal world) another deadline acquisition getting the bulk of the starts against lefties.
As for the price, it’s nothing. While Colin Holderman wasn’t a name many people recognized before this year, he has established himself as a promising bullpen option for the Mets as he has put up a 2.04 ERA in 17.2 innings over 15 appearances so far in his big league career. He provided much-needed stability to a bullpen that needed it in 2022, but with the Mets likely scouring the trade market for bullpen help and Trevor May returning, the team likely thought he was replaceable. In the short term, Yoan Lopez was called up to take Holderman’s spot on the roster.
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