Mets: Addison Reed’s time in New York is greatly overlooked

After the last couple of seasons, it is hard to believe the New York Mets bullpen ever had any solid pieces in it. Outside of Seth Lugo the past couple of seasons, there really has not been anyone really worth mentioning.

Although it feels like ages ago now, Addison Reed‘s three seasons with the Mets was not too long ago. His three seasons in Flushing came from a part of the great 2015 season through part of the 2017 season.

In the mix of the Mets going on their exciting run in 2015, grinding down the stretch in 2016 to make it to the playoffs again, and a disappointing fall off in 2017, Reed’s numbers get forgotten. All the hyped was around Yoenis Cespedes and Daniel Murphy in 2015 with their historic runs, and the Mets limping to the Wild Card in 2016 after battling multiple injuries.

Reed’s time with the Mets often gets overlooked and is extremely underrated.

Reed was brought over in late August of 2015 when the Mets were looking to add to the bullpen as they were making a push to the playoffs, and boy did he help. In 15.1 innings he had a 1.17 ERA, a 1.043 WHIP, with 1 save and 17 strikeouts.

2016 was Reed’s only full season in Flushing and he did not disappoint. Serving as the team’s primary setup man for closing pitcher Jeurys Familia, Reed had the best season of his career. He logged a career-high 77.2  innings to a 1.97 ERA, a 0.940 WHIP, had 1 save, and had a career-high 91 strikeouts. Talk about dominating your opponent.

Reed was a huge part of the team’s success as many players dealt with injury that season. With the Mets finding themselves in the Wild Card game at the end of the season, they turned to Reed one more time. After Noah Syndergaard threw 7 shutout innings, Terry Collins turned to Reed for the top of the eighth. Although Reed got himself into trouble by walking 2 and allowing a hit, he was able to come through in the clutch once again by striking out Hunter Pence with the bases loaded, keeping the game tied and the Mets season alive at that moment.

In Reed’s third and final year, he served as the team’s closer before being traded to the Boston Red Sox at the deadline due to an injury to Familia. Prior to being traded, he tossed 49 innings to a 2.57 ERA, a 1.122 WHIP, saved 19 games, and struck out 48 batters.

In those parts of three seasons, Reed went on to have a 2.09 ERA, a 1.014 WHIP, 21 saves, and 156 strikeouts in 142 innings pitched with a 5.1 WAR overall.

With Reed’s time in Flushing rather short at only one full season and two half seasons, it is easy to look past him since he was not closing games and other players stealing the spotlight. His time with the Mets was one of the best in recent memory and there is no denying that.

The Mets took a chance on Reed who was a bit inconsistent at the time in his career and it paid off big for them. He gave the Amazin’s an extremely reliable and effective relief pitcher for parts of three seasons and helped the Mets reach back-to-back postseason appearances for only the second time in Franchise history.

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Was Addison Reed’s time with the Mets greatly overlooked?