Mets bullpen options: 1 who won't get a chance before the trade deadline, 2 who might

Shintaro Fujinami is worth a glimpse in the Mets bullpen

Shintaro Fujinami continues to work his way back to the big leagues where he has yet to appear this season. A bold free agent signing by the Mets this offseason, he was ineffective for Syracuse before landing on the IL. Things have gone much better at the lower minor league levels.

Fujinami’s return will require an additional roster move for the Mets as he’ll come back from the 60-day IL thus isn’t presently a true member of the 40-man roster. No worries. The Mets have already tried out enough relief pitchers who’ve failed and could be DFA’d to make room.

Fujinami should be forced to prove himself a little while longer in Triple-A before the Mets give him an opportunity in the big leagues. Control has been an issue for several of their pitchers this season. Fujinami’s biggest weakness as well, they shouldn’t be afraid to make him prove himself in non-rehab outings and versus superior hitters.

It’s a given that the Mets will at least test him out at some point this year. Doing so before the trade deadline seems almost necessary if only to give themselves an idea of whether or not he can be a contributor this year or not. Plenty of relief pitcher additions have been busts for the Mets. Let’s use a week in July to have an idea if he’s one of them or a guy to hold onto.