6 pitchers who should get every inning possible this spring

3) NY Mets need to find out more about Josh Walker as a reliever

Another lefty to keep an eye on is a Mets minor league pitcher who is already transitioning from starter to reliever. Josh Walker was one of the players the organization sent to the Arizona Fall League. You don’t do that unless you believe in a guy’s abilities.

Moving to the bullpen and finding success is the next phase of Walker’s career. This spring will be an opportunity to pass someone like T.J. McFarland in the early part of the year as a candidate for the bullpen. He’s a longshot to make the Opening Day roster. He doesn’t have a 40-man roster spot and a promotion for him will rely on a couple of things to go well in the regular season.

Walker needs to embrace the relief role and excel at it. The Mets will also require a need on the MLB roster for another lefty reliever. It’s debatable how necessary southpaws are these days. The three-batter minimum rule did to the LOOGY what video did to the radio star.

A doubtful Opening Day roster candidate, Walker is someone the Mets should explore as a mid-season promotion candidate. Give Buck Showalter a chance to get to know him in the spring when there’s nothing on the line for the team but a whole lot for players like Walker.