Mets roster newcomers: 1 to keep, 1 to send far away, 1 worth debating

Three newcomers to the Mets roster on three different timelines.
Texas Rangers v New York Mets
Texas Rangers v New York Mets / Jim McIsaac/GettyImages
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NY Mets should send reliever Phil Bickford away without a second thought

What’s Phil Bickford doing here anyway? A two-time first-round draft pick who didn’t sign when he was selected tenth overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013, Bickford ended up as the 18th overall selection in the 2015 draft by the San Francisco Giants. He has had only one good major league season when he posted a 2.50 ERA in 50.1 innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Not nearly as good in 2022 or 2023, the Dodgers saw him as expendable in a trade deadline deal with the Mets this summer.

Bickford hasn’t been good enough for the Mets to justify giving him any more leash. They’ve already moved on from Adam Kolarek, the other player acquired in the same trade. Could they do the same with Bickford?

Making matters worse, Bickford doesn’t even have minor league options. There’s no patience to be had with him. You either keep the guy on the major league roster or you DFA him. Bickford has yet to show enough consistency to warrant a stay on the roster.

If the Mets are serious about competing next year, they will cut Bickford loose. Unfortunately, they might feel the need to push him on us a little while longer. After all, what do they have to lose other than a few more games?