Mets expected to add lefty reliever during Winter Meetings

The Mets are expected to add a left-handed reliever, either via trade or free agency, during next month’s Winter Meetings.

LHP Zach Duke, thought to be a solid option, recently signed a three-year, $15 million dollar deal with the White Sox.

Other options on the free agent market include Neal Cotts, Joe Thatcher, and Phil Coke.

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, free agent Andrew Miller is not an option for the Mets.

Thoughts:

Aside from an upgrade at shortstop, adding a reliable lefty reliever to pair with Josh Edgin is the biggest need for the Mets heading into 2015.

While the Mets may bring back lefty Dana Eveland, they should be looking to add another established lefty for two reasons.

For one, Eveland isn’t a true lefty specialist. Second, Eveland’s 2014 was cut short due to inflammation in his pitching elbow.

That the Mets reportedly won’t be going after Andrew Miller will irk some. However, with the Mets already loaded with high-end bullpen arms (Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, Bobby Parnell, Vic Black), spending what it will take to get Miller (likely $10 million per for four seasons) is something they shouldn’t be doing.

With the free agent crop underwhelming and with the Mets stock full of assets they can move via trade, it would make sense for them to explore the trade market first in their search for lefty relief.