7 NY Mets players who will make the Opening Day roster but will be on thin ice

7) Paul Blackburn

While I’m still not fully convinced Paul Blackburn will make it to Opening Day as a member of the Mets due to a sneaky spring trade if not sooner, it’s way too speculative to assume he won’t be present. Blackburn was an acceptable trade deadline addition last year if only because he didn’t cost much at all. Heading into the 2025 season, it seems underwhelming.

A career 4.85 ERA which hasn’t been all that much better over the last three seasons when he has been a regular in the Oakland Athletics rotation, Blackburn lacks the desirable stuff many of us want from our pitchers. He doesn’t walk a lot of batters which is welcomed. However, in parts of 8 MLB seasons, only his 10 start rookie campaign in 2017 has resulted in an ERA+ of 100 or better. He’ll enter this year with an 83 ERA+ which puts him well below average.

Just because the Mets tendered him a contract doesn’t mean they’re fully committed to him. His deal, worth $4.05 million in 2025, is peanuts on the payroll. It wasn’t a tragedy for them to tender him a contract. Because of the way things have shaped out, Blackburn blends in with those other looming question marks.

It’s safe to believe Blackburn remains with the Mets when Opening Day arrives merely because he has such little trade value. Equally as trustworthy of a belief is that he’ll do so in a pair of snow boots to help his feet from freezing. He should be on thin ice from the start of spring training.