Mets need to move on from Jerry Blevins despite interest in returning

Jerry Blevins would like to return to the New York Mets next season. The Mets need to avoid sentimentality and let him walk in free agency.

Lefty Jerry Blevins expressed an interest in returning to the New York Mets in 2019. The veteran reliever had a rough 2018 campaign, before settling in with a nice end of summer.

The overall numbers posted by Blevins this year may look somewhat favorable. When you factor in his stronger second-half, there’s an even greater argument to consider him in 2019. Also helping his case is the lack of southpaw options currently within the organization itself.

Blevins’ best days, however, are long over. His inability to get out lefties in 2018 at a consistent rate have me prepared to drive him to the airport. Thankfully, it’s not far from Citi Field so I don’t have to do too much New York City driving. In fact, I’ll probably just pay for an Uber.

Blevins is good for the 2019 Mets the same way Jose Reyes could have been for the 2018 team. As we witnessed, it was a horrible decision to bring back the aging infielder.

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A recent trend the Mets have suffered through is a failed reunion. This year, Reyes and Jay Bruce are two major culprits. Not long ago, the return of Jon Niese ruined any positive memories (as few as they may have been in some seasons) we had of him during his first trip through Flushing.

Not all reunions in baseball are bad. At this point in his career, though, it’s probably best the Metropolitans part with Blevins before things get way too out of hand with him on the mound.

Sentimentality is an issue for this front office. Their inability to cut Reyes earlier this season when things were at their worst suggest they could end up doing the same with Blevins in 2019 if he crashes and burns. Management would rather waste money on poor production than to have dead money on the payroll.

Blevins did what he had to do for the Mets. He got some big outs for them versus left-handed hitters.

There’s a reason why they didn’t sign him beyond 2018. For many months, we saw why that was. He’s near the finish line and saying farewell by letting him walk into free agency and onto another roster is the best way to part.

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Blevins is smart. He knows there aren’t too many jobs for him left in Major League Baseball. The Mets need to be smarter and realize when it’s time to find the next lefty reliever to lean on.