New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway needs to lure Cody Allen to Citi Field

Mickey Callaway can earn even more bonus points from New York Mets fans if he can convince Cleveland Indians closer Cody Allen to reunite with him in Queens.

When it comes to consistency, few closers are as predictable as Cleveland Indians closer Cody Allen. He would look great on the New York Mets roster. Fortunately for New York, he could become available next winter.

There hasn’t been much talk about what the Mets plan to do next winter. However, those questions will arise as the year progresses and we get a clearer picture of how far this team can go.

Closer is one spot the Mets will surely like to secure. Whether it involves re-signing Jeurys Familia or going after another team, the Mets need to feel confident with their choice.

Allen, who should have plenty of suitors this winter, is one guy I would love for the Mets to target. Considering he already knows manager Mickey Callaway from their time in Cleveland together, could we see the Mets’ skipper recruit Allen to New York?

For those unfamiliar with Allen’s success, he has been the heart of the Indians’ bullpen even before Andrew Miller arrived. By the way, Miller is also in the final year of his deal with the Indians. Wouldn’t they both look nice in a Mets’ uniform?

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I digress. This isn’t about the Mets inviting all of Callaway’s old pals to the Big Apple. This is about landing one very specific pitcher.

Since becoming the Indians closer, Allen has never finished a year with an ERA above 2.99 while always striking out at least 11 batters per nine. He’s everything a team could want from a closer. Maybe the only unusual thing about him is how not unusual he seems. For a ninth-inning man, Allen seems rather sane.

Closers like Allen are rare. Usually, there’s one blow up season sprinkled in between the good. Not in his case. He has quietly powered his way atop the list of the best closers in baseball.

To believe Callaway has any sway in Allen’s free agent status is not unfathomable. More than ever it seems managers and coaches or front office people reunite in new cities.

Take the Chicago Cubs for instance. The 2016 team had a good mix of former Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Manager Joe Maddon made sure to bring in Ben Zobrist while general manager Theo Epstein went out and signed Jon Lester. There’s no reason to believe Callaway is incapable of doing the same with Allen or other Indians players.

It’s far too soon to know how far the Mets are willing to go at attacking the upcoming free agent market. With many teams distracted by the Bryce Harper and Manny Machado sweepstakes, the Mets would be wise to slink in and fill their own needs.

Next: Mets need to cancel the Matt Harvey soap opera

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One they should look to better is the bullpen. This starts by offering Allen a deal as early as possible.