Yankees, Red Sox tuned up NY Mets spring training invite for another shot

Spring training is a time for unlikely heroes. One big grand slam can have fans talking about how you should make the roster. In less than a dozen innings, we’ll clear out a roster spot to have you in the bullpen. The New York Mets always have a non-roster invitee or 8 who seem to captivate our imagination with a small sample size of success.

As we near the start of spring training, we’ll have plenty of time to discuss further which of these players can make their mark. One pitcher who’ll be in camp this year with a shot to win over fans is Nick Burdi.

An oft-injured righty who recently turned 33, he’s on a minor league deal and coming off of two successful Triple-A stints with good major league results in a small sample. A 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings for the 2024 New York Yankees and 0.00 in 5.1 with the Boston Red Sox, the pair of AL East foes tuned him up for a stint with the Mets this spring.

Where does Nick Burdi fit into the Mets plans?

Burdi no longer has minor league options without his approval. He can accept the assignment the same way Chris Devenski did for the Mets last year multiple times. We’ll worry about that after he actually pitches well.

Burdi seems like a distant contender for an actual roster spot to open the year. As the season progresses, he should be right there in the mix, especially if he’s able to repeat the Triple-A results from the past two years.

As a member of the 2024 Yankees’ Triple-A team in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Burdi had a 2.65 ERA in 17 innings. Walks were frighteningly high at 5.8 BB/9 but it came with 12.7 K/9. In 35 frames for the Red Sox team in Worcester last year, Burdi had a 2.83 ERA and 4.1 BB/9. It came with 11.6 K/9.

Huge strikeout numbers have been his calling card. His minor league career has a 12.4 K/9 rate. In 30.1 major league innings, Burdi is at 13.1 K/9.

In a short spurt against batters on his level, Burdi should have a chance to bury them with 3 strikes before they put the ball in play. He seems bound to have some success in St. Lucie in his first look as a member of the Mets.