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The contenders for the Mets' 3 open bullpen spots
The most open competition with the New York Mets this spring takes place in the bullpen. The team has three spots up for grabs. We can lump certain players into each battle along the way, too.
We’re only a couple of games into Spring Training action. Nobody has yet to differentiate themselves either way. With a 30-day challenge ahead for all of these relievers, who comes out on top in these three smack fests?
1) Open NY Mets bullpen spot: Long-man
The long-man is the specific role that’s open while the other two we’ll discuss are more “spots” than anything else. The long-man has a specific talent. He can throw multiple innings and do it on short notice. The over-planner in me knows this is not something I could ever do. It takes a special pitcher. Who can help us get over the loss of Trevor Williams?
The Mets seem to have narrowed down the long-man competition to two arms. Joey Lucchesi and Elieser Hernandez are those guys. Each has started in their big league career without much success. We know Lucchesi well enough and how he is coming back from Tommy John Surgery. He’s a lefty which does seem to match with another hole in the bullpen. Brooks Raley is currently the only left-handed reliever with a roster spot locked.
Between the two, Lucchesi could have the advantage early on. The Mets are more familiar with him. He can provide them with shorter outings as well, possibly entering with an out or two to face a left-handed hitter.
Regardless of who wins, Lucchesi and Hernandez are likely to switch between the majors and minors regularly throughout the year. The Mets may only have two relievers on their Opening Day roster they’d be able and willing to demote. Drew Smith does have options, but he seems to be one of the core group.
2) Open NY Mets bullpen spot: Relief pitcher with minor league options
There’s another spot in the bullpen open. Those competing for this one need a membership card. It requires minor league options.
Whether a pitcher has minor league options or not is a big deal to the Mets. It’s why they reportedly passed on signing another veteran free agent this offseason. It’s understandable in some ways. You want to have the luxury of fresh arms. If you’ve been paying attention to every transaction the team made this offseason, you will have noticed they loaded up on relief pitchers.
Onto the battle. Who’s going to win this one? Contenders include John Curtiss, Stephen Ridings, Jeff Brigham, Sam Coonrod, and Bryce Montes de Oca. All five have at least one minor league option remaining. Who will come away on top?
Whoever it is, he better not get too cozy in the majors. He’ll be one of the first to get sent to Syracuse. Likely, his replacement will be someone who lost here.
Brigham and Coonrod have something going for them. Curtiss and Ridings didn’t pitch at all last year. Montes de Oca barely even got to savor his sip of coffee last year. Do the Mets go with a more experienced veteran over one of the others?
If I had to rank their chances, without any Spring Training results, we might go Brigham/Coonrod in a tie for the lead followed by Curtiss and his big league success and finishing off with Montes de Oca and Ridings in a tie. Because Ridings does need to make a first impression and Montes de Oca needs to work on his control, a few extra innings in Triple-A to begin the year could benefit them in the long run.
3) Open NY Mets bullpen spot: Relief pitcher without minor league options
Finally, there’s another spot in the bullpen that could actually end up in the hands of someone else from the previous category. The team has two relievers without options fighting for a roster spot. It doesn’t make sense for the Mets to keep them both.
Rule 5 Draft pick Zach Greene and out of options reliever Stephen Nogosek are in a battle against the rest of the relievers and each other. The Mets will either have to keep Greene on the 26-man roster all year or return him to the New York Yankees. Nogosek, on the other hand, would have to pass through waivers in order to stay with the team. I would guess some relief pitcher-needy club would take a shot at him.
If all things are equal, Greene is the guy to choose. Ride him out as long as you can. If he struggles, so be it. Don’t be sad because it’s over. Be happy because it happened.
Nogosek showed some promising signs last year in the majors. It would be nice to have a chance to stash him on the farm. With Greene, the Mets lose him immediately. At least there is a chance the club is able to retain Nogosek or at least re-acquire him later in the year when he is placed on waivers again.
This battle will be determined by performance. And if neither Greene nor Nogosek is impressive enough, one of the optional relievers should win.
Next. 3 Mets who could sneak onto the 40-man roster. dark