2. Mets pitcher Chasen Shreve
The Mets signed a familiar face to a minor league deal in Chasen Shreve just before their first Spring Training game. If the roster was at 26 players, I believe he would've had a great chance at making the team as the Mets don't have a lefty reliever. With a 28-man roster, I think it's likely he makes it.
I wanted the Mets to acquire someone like Andrew Chafin to fill the hole left by Aaron Loup who departed in free agency after his career year. However, I shouldn't really doubt the Mets when it comes to left handed relievers.
Guys like Jerry Blevins, Justin WIlson, and Loup have been absolute bargains for the Mets on the contracts they were on, and if Shreve pitches like he has the last couple of seasons, he will join this list.
Shreve was on the team during the 2020 shortened season. He held lefties to a .063/.250/.250 slash line in 40 plate appearances against him. The sample was small, but he was dominant against lefties.
He spent his 2021 campaign with the Pirates and was once again very effective against lefties. They slashed just .200/.289/.344 against him with three home runs in 104 plate appearances. Overall, he had a 3.20 ERA in 57 games and 56.1 innings pitched.
Shreve is a low cost arm who I have confidence in to get the job done. Would he be my first choice to face someone like Bryce Harper or Juan Soto? Probably not, but Aaron Loup wouldn't have been either before the season.