Mets re-sign Buddy Carlyle to minor league deal

The Mets announced on Monday that they have re-signed RHP Buddy Carlyle to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to big league Spring Training.

Carlyle, 37, was non-tendered earlier this offseason.

By bringing him back on a minor league deal instead of tendering him a contract, the Mets may have saved roughly $500,000.

For the Mets in 2014, Carlyle had a 1.45 ERA and 0.90 WHIP 31.0 innings pitched over 27 appearances.

For his career, Carlyle has a 5.13 ERA over parts of eight seasons.

Thoughts:

While Carlyle’s numbers were quite good for the Mets in 2014, it should be noted that it was his first solid season in the majors since 2008, when he posted a 3.59 ERA for Atlanta.

Between 2008 and his campaign with the Mets last season, Carlyle struggled during each big league stint while spending the majority of each of those seasons in the minors.

Aside from an increase in fastball velocity of a tick over one MPH over where he was in 2011, nothing really stood out as different for Carlyle in 2014 compared to his other much less successful campaigns.

Still, taking a flyer on a pitcher like Carlyle – especially on a minor league deal – can’t hurt.

With the Mets’ big league bullpen set to include Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, Vic Black, Josh Edgin, Carlos Torres, likely another lefty (perhaps Sean Gilmartin, who was recently acquired in the Rule 5 Draft), and one more arm, it’s probable that Carlyle winds up at Triple-A Las Vegas as depth.

Further increasing the likelihood of Carlyle winding up in Triple-A is the fact that Bobby Parnell, while not expected to be ready by Opening Day, should be ready shortly thereafter.

Additionally, there has been some talk about Rafael Montero perhaps being used out of the bullpen early in 2015. If that came to fruition, he would likely fill out the pen.