Mets add Taijuan Walker, source says, for the team's rotation depth

In adding one of the best remaining free-agent starting pitchers Friday, the Mets finished off their offseason — probably, maybe — and solidified the best rotation depth they have had in years.

Righthander Taijuan Walker and the Mets agreed to a deal pending a physical, a source said. It reportedly is for two years and $20 million, with a player option for 2023.

A former top-10 prospect, Walker, 28, finally seemed to figure something out last year, posting a 2.70 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with Seattle and Toronto. He was particularly good after being traded to the Blue Jays, for whom he had a 1.37 ERA in a half-dozen starts as Toronto snuck into the playoffs.

"You talk about talent plus experience," manager Luis Rojas said. "Around the league, players that have been in the same clubhouse with him, we heard about some leadership as well. I think it can be a great addition."

With Walker on board, the Mets are looking at an Opening Day starting five of Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman, Walker and David Peterson. Noah Syndergaard is on schedule for a June return from Tommy John surgery.

Their depth starters include Joey Lucchesi, Jordan Yamamoto, Franklyn Kilome, Sean Reid-Foley and Jerad Eickhoff.

Rojas mentioned in passing that the Mets might use a six-man rotation instead of the usual five.

Taijuan Walker, RHP

Age: 28

Career stats (8 seasons)

W-L: 35-34

ERA: 3.84

WHIP: 1.246

IP: 581 2/3

K/9: 8.2

K/BB: 2.87

"We just want to see them competing out there, not mentioning one spot or the other," he said. "It feels good that we have some good depth, guys that have experience at the major league level in recent years and have been successful, too."

That depth will be important as the Mets figure out how to handle workloads after a year in which no pitcher threw a normal number of innings because of the pandemic-shortened schedule.

Walker, for example, threw 53 1⁄3 innings in 2020 after being hurt for most of 2018-19, when he totaled 14 innings. Typical workload jumps, in addition to his injury history, would suggest that he will not be available for the full 30-plus starts.

Peterson threw 49 2⁄3 innings last year, his rookie season. His career high is 128 in 2018.

Carrasco has averaged 74 innings the past two years.

Stroman, who opted out with coronavirus concerns, and Syndergaard (surgery) didn’t pitch at all in 2020.

The Mets have not had serious conversations about innings limits or workload management, Rojas said.

Extra bases

Seth Lugo is in "great spirits" after surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow Tuesday, Rojas said . . . Among the under-the-radar pitchers who have impressed Rojas: Matthew Allan, Ryley Gilliam and Sam McWilliams, who at 6-7 is an inch taller than Syndergaard. "The ball comes out firm. Funky, too. Tall," Rojas said. "A good curveball, slider. He had an impressive side [session Thursday]." . . . Rojas went out of his way to say Jeff McNeil is a good third baseman, emphasizing that the Mets expect him to see time at multiple positions.