Mets: Outside options have struggled to keep staff afloat

GM Sandy Alderson tried to find short-term solutions, but results have been to no avail.

The New York Mets’ pitching staff has been left in shambles from the combination of injuries and poor performance. While GM Sandy Alderson has tried to be proactive, it hasn’t been working out. The outside options brought in to patch up the staff have not moved the needle at all on the season.

All three pitchers came in with previous success or high regard at one time. None of the three have been able to recapture prior form as the Mets continue to remain in a stalemate in the standings heading toward June.

More from Rising Apple

• NY Mets Free Agent Retrospective: Daniel Murphy becomes an enemy
• NY Mets: 1 major award you didn’t realize the team has never won
• NY Mets: Trade market for starting pitchers feels non-existent
• NY Mets prospect Eric Orze has the stuff to become a future closer
• NY Mets Rumors: 1 big threat to steal 2 Flushing free agents

Start with Tommy Milone who was brought aboard the beginning of May. In three starts, Milone gave up 19 hits and 15 runs over 12 innings before going on the disabled list with a knee injury. He threw the most percentage of change-ups in a start this season when the Angels worked him over for eight runs (seven earned). The long ball also continues to be a problem as well. Milone has served up five homers in three appearances with the Mets and 11 in nine total outings this year.

Neil Ramirez was designated for assignment twice already in 2017 when the Mets decided to give him a shot in the bullpen. Needless to say, Ramirez has had just as rocky a start to his Mets career as he had with his most recent employer in San Francisco. Ramirez has logged just 2.1 innings over five appearances and has failed to record an out in two of those five games.

What about Blake Beavan? The Mets signed the former first round pick to a minor league deal and he had a rough go in Las Vegas. To make room for Steven Matz who was on a rehab assignment, Beavan was the odd man out of the rotation. As a result, he was sent down to AA Binghamton. In three appearances with the 51s, Beavan surrendered 23 hits and 15 runs in 14 innings.

Some reinforcements are arriving soon. Matz is nearing a comeback and Seth Lugo won’t be too far behind. Beyond that, internal options are the better way to go at this point. Paul Sewald is already proving he deserves to stick in the Mets’ pen. Add Lugo’s presence in a dual threat role along with Jerry Blevins, Addison Reed, and Josh Edgin (who has quietly had a good season) and the bullpen may not be too far away from fixing itself.

Next: Mets' Gsellman posts second straight quality start

The whole point of the outside options was to at least provide an effective bridge, but it hasn’t worked out as planned.  Now the Mets will start to get some of their guys back as they stand at 22-27 after Monday’s win over Milwaukee.