3 injured NY Mets players who might become irrelevant before they come off the IL

3) Paul Blackburn

Paul Blackburn, who the Mets got from the Athletics before the trade deadline last season, has been on the IL since late March after his recent spring training start with right knee inflammation. He could easily lose his position on the team before returning as his performances with the team last season weren’t stellar. 

In 2024, after joining the Mets, Blackburn pitched in five games and put up a 5.18 ERA with 24.1 innings pitched. He pitched for the team in spring training this year and struggled. For example, in his spring training starts, he put up a 5.68 ERA with 12.2 innings pitched. He also doesn’t have good career numbers with the Athletics. He has ERAs in the above four and five in every season except for his first one in 2017. 

The purpose of the Mets getting Blackburn was to add quality depth to a depleted rotation in the middle of last season. However, he hasn’t lived up to the quality potential the team was looking for, which is why it would be risky to throw him in the starting rotation. The team’s starters are already pitching well so far, so he would be another player who might not be relevant before coming back from injury.

Blackburn was already headed toward a role in the bullpen when the season began. While a logical destination for him still, it's going to be tough to find room when players such as Huascar Brazoban and Max Kranick are doing what he could but only far