5) Austin Warren
Austin Warren had a really good year for the Mets when he pitched. The 0.96 ERA is tough to overlook. Coming in just 9.1 innings, we know better than to pencil him in for an Opening Day job.
Warren’s lack of remaining minor league options makes him an inevitable roster cut. No championship caliber ball club trying to overcome an embarrassing end to their season can possibly sell the fans a bullpen with Warren as a part of the plan. He’s a backup plan who might linger for a while. And if he does make the team, it better be because someone is hurt.
Players like Warren are the ones missing from the Mets right now that Stearns should be most actively adding. Kevin Herget, who is no longer with the Mets, is another example of a guy with big league experience who pitched well in a small amount of time and had the options available. Usually these guys are found on the waiver wire just as Warren was for the Mets in mid-January.
With many teams cleaning house and opening up roster space at the non-tender deadline, it could be a while before we see the larger influx of pitchers like this coming in.
