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Mets players on the hot seat heading into the 2021 season

By Adrian Cervantes

JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 01: J.D. Davis #28 of the New York Mets in the third inning against the Miami Marlins in a spring training game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 01, 2021 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 01: J.D. Davis #28 of the New York Mets in the third inning against the Miami Marlins in a spring training game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 01, 2021 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 25: Jeurys Familia #27 of the New York Mets in action against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on July 25, 2020 in New York City. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Braves defeated the Mets 5-3 in ten innings. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

4) Right-handed pitcher Jeurys Familia

Continuing with the current theme of right-handed relievers, the final player that sees themselves on the Mets hot seat this season is reliever Jeurys Familia. As previously stated the Mets bullpen is one area that has often been criticized this offseason, and Familia’s performance this season will go a long way to settling down those critics.

Familia is entering the final year of his deal with the Mets this season but he carries an exorbitant $11.7 million price tag in 2021. Familia’s contract has put him under a bit more scrutiny over the past two seasons after signing a three-year $30 million deal back in 2018 while falling short on results. Similar to Dellin Betances, Familia was shopped this offseason on the trade block by the front office with no takers.

It’s fair to argue that Familia had a bit of a bounce-back in 2020 by posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 23/19 strikeout to walk ratio in 26.2 innings pitched. But the 31-year old reliever still largely struggled with his command which is something he will have to improve upon this season if he expects to make it through the season as a member of the Mets. However. it’s still an improvement from the ugly 2019 campaign in which Familia pitched to a 5.70 ERA over 60 innings.

Next. Three potential openers that could be utilized out of the Mets bullpen

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While there is no guarantee that Familia has a future with the organization beyond this upcoming season, there also may be no guarantee that Familia makes it through the current season with the Mets should he continue to struggle. As I had previously stated earlier, with the amount of right-handed pitching the Mets contain on their 40-man roster, it may not take much for there to be musical chairs in the bullpen should Familia, Betances, and Gsellman continue to struggle in 2021.

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