3 ex-Mets having All-Star worthy seasons in 2023

Baltimore Orioles v New York Mets
Baltimore Orioles v New York Mets | Steven Ryan/GettyImages
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3) Former Mets player who deserves an All-Star roster spot: Paul Sewald

A third member of the 2020 Mets who looks like he could make it to Seattle is a guy already representing the city. The most perplexing Mets pitcher in recent history, Paul Sewald, has been an entirely different reliever since leaving the Mets. The 1-14 record and 5.50 ERA out of the bullpen for them from 2017-2020 is a deep fake of nonsense when put up against what he has accomplished for the Seattle Mariners from 2021-present.

The Mariners have given Sewald big innings and an opportunity to close games regularly. He had a 3.06 ERA and 11 saves in 2021 to go along with 10 wins. In 2022, Sewald had a 2.67 ERA and 20 more saves for his resume. This season, Sewald is 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA with 13 saves for the Mariners.

Competition between closers to represent their ball clubs in the All-Star Game is only outmatched by the war between first basemen. Nearly every good team has a closer worthy of an All-Star selection. Several of the bad ones do, too.

The Mariners will have someone stick around and Sewald is definitely one of those candidates to do so. Yes, he’s a guy the Mets moved on from before he took off. At least it’s not Jarred Kelenic who they traded away, coincidentally enough, for the former Seattle closer, Edwin Diaz. He has cooled off dramatically. Unless they send starting pitchers George Kirby or Luis Castillo, Sewald could be the one player to remain in Seattle and represent the team in the All-Star festivities.