Mets Sign for Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Dylan Covey to a One-Year Contract

Former Philadelphia pitcher Dylan Covey has signed with one of the teams' NL East rivals on Thursday.

The New York Mets.

Covey, missed all of the 2024 season with a right shoulder strain but went 1-3 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts in 43 innings in 2023 for the Phillies in 28 games with the Phillies (one with the Dodgers).

He was used primarily as a long man for Philadelphia but did start 17 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley posting a 1.35 ERA.

The Phillies did some bullpen depth on Wednesday, adding 2012 Oakcrest High School alum, Cody Stashak, who should compete for a role similar to what Covey had for Philadelphia in 2023.

Now that the MLB offseason is officially here, the team will need to make decisions on both Carols Estévez and Jeff Hoffman, who are free agents.

Here is what former MLB GM Jim Bowden from The Athletic said about Estévez:

Carlos Estévez had a strong free-agent walk year, posting a 2.38 ERA with the Angels before being traded at the deadline to Philadelphia, where he put up a 2.57 ERA over 20 games. He finished the season with 26 saves and 0.909 WHIP, but also averaged 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings, the lowest rate of his career.

Bowden predicts that Estévez will receiver a deal of three years, $33 million.

As for Hoffman, Bowden had this to say:

Jeff Hoffman had the best year of his career, making the All-Star team and tallying a 2.17 ERA and 0.965 WHIP in 68 games. He struck out 89 in 66 1/3 innings (12.1 strikeouts per nine). However, he fared poorly in this postseason, allowing six runs in 1 1/3 innings over three games. The Phillies are unlikely to bring back both Hoffman and Carlos Estévez.

As far as Hoffman, Bowden predicts that he will secure a deal of three years for $27 million.

He notes that he doesn't see both pitchers returning to the team in 2025.