One of the fun parts about spring training is that there is always a group of pitchers vying for a coveted spot in the Opening Day bullpen.
While that may not sound very exciting on paper, the mix of veterans looking for one last go-around in the show and young up-and-comers trying to open up eyes and prove themselves worthy makes for a great competition for the seven bullpen spots.
For the purposes of this exercise, we’re going to assume full health of all available options – including Bobby Parnell who has been hampered by his quadriceps.
We’ll also assume that there are several pitchers with more or less guaranteed spots on the roster – Parnell, Vic Black, Scott Rice, and Carlos Torres. That leaves three spots open on the Opening Day roster for the likes of Gonzalez Germen, Ryan Reid, Josh Edgin, Jeurys Familia, Kyle Farnsworth, Jose Valverde and Jeff Walters to battle it out for. Personally, I would add John Lannan and Daisuke Matsuzaka onto the list of potential bullpen options, but since they are still part of the fifth starter battle, we’ll omit them for now.
The Inside Track
Gonzalez Germen – Germen logged 34.1 innings with the Mets last year, riding his changeup to largely positive results. He should have a spot in the bullpen come Opening Day, but should he perform poorly during the spring, I could see him spending the first few weeks of the season in Las Vegas.
Josh Edgin – Edgin has all the makings of a good reliever, but has yet to fully blossom at the major league level. It can be said that manager Terry Collins’ bullpen management has affected him in a negative way, but Edgin has still walked 3.64 batters per nine innings in his career. Collins’ preference for two lefties in the bullpen certainly helps Edgin’s case, and he is good enough that he should break camp with the team.
Jeurys Familia – Almost the forgotten man in the bullpen competition, Familia returns from an injury-shortened season in 2013 trying to once again head north with the Mets. By now we all know the book on Familia – good fastball, lacking in command and control. If he could find a way to reign in his arsenal, Familia could be a very good reliever. For now 7.04 BB/9 in a small sample indicates that that could be a ways off, if it ever comes.
On The Bubble
Ryan Reid – The 28-year-old Reid is an intriguing name who with a good spring, could knock Familia or Germen off the roster. After being drafted in the seventh round of the 2006 draft by the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Reid finally broke into the majors last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings, but of course, this is a very small sample size. Reid throws a low-90s sinking fastball, a Reagan-era mid-80s slider and will mix in the occasional changeup. I like Reid as a solid middle-relief type, nothing more. If he breaks camp with the Mets, I would neither be surprised nor disappointed.
Maybe Five Years Ago
Kyle Farnsworth – Farnsworth used to throw 98-100. On Saturday, he was throwing 86-88, touching 92 on Tradition Field’s radar gun, according to Adam Rubin. Sure, it’s the first outing in spring training, but it is still something to be leery of nonetheless. If the velocity doesn’t improve soon, I don’t see a way Farnsworth has a chance of making it past St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s Farnsworth doing his Bill Goldberg impression for your viewing pleasure.
Jose Valverde – See Farnsworth, Kyle. There was a time when Valverde was good. That time is over. I’d say that I would be shocked to see him on the Opening Day roster, but shocked isn’t strong enough of a word. Nothing to see here, moving right along.
Outside Chance
Jeff Walters – Walters set a Binghamton record last year by recording 38 saves in what was a dominating season at Double-A. He also had a 2.09 ERA and a 3.75 K:BB ratio in 56.0 innings. Walters’ breakout season in 2013 solidified him as a legitimate late-inning relief prospect, but unless he “wows” in spring training, it’s hard to see him making the leap past Triple-A. I’d imagine that we see Walters as a Met sometime this summer, assuming he continues to pitch well in Las Vegas.
Erik Goeddel – Goeddel differs from Walters because he is probably not going to be seen in Flushing this year until at least September, barring a cavalcade of injuries. He is a former starter just now being transitioned out to the bullpen, and has never pitched above the Double-A level. His 4.37 ERA in 134.0 innings pitched in Binghamton last year wasn’t exactly the stuff that indicates he has a chance to make the big club. He is included on this list solely because he is on the 40-man roster.
Joe Vasile is the voice of the Fayetteville (NC) SwampDogs. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeVasilePBP.
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Joe you forgot Lethersich? He might be the surprise of spring training and the fact that Terry likes to have two left handed pitchers in the bull pen and that Edgin got hit yesterday
and had problems last year Lethersich just might get a bull pen spot? I’m wondering if Lannan
has a good spring but so does Mejia or Dice K does Lannan make the bull pen as the 2nd lefty?
leathersich didn’t do so well today.
I didn’t include Leathersich in the post because he is not on the 40 man roster like Goeddel and Walters are. Valverde and Farnsworth are NRIs, but their veteran status helps them out. From everything I’ve seen, Leathersich needs a little more polishing before he is ready, so a June/July call up is likely for him.
Sorry I believe its Leathersich?
Josh Edgin has to be a lock…
Anyone know how the Mets are using Torres this spring? Haven’t seen much news with him. Is he working out with the starters or the relievers?
The fact that Valverde and Farnsworth are favorites according to Teflon Terry is all the more reason that the Collins extension was a mistake. Both have experience and a past but they are non roster invites, not free agents with a guarantee. They were both cut by major leagues teams last summer because they weren’t good enough. If they pitch well, then great, they can make the team but they should not get any special considerations.
The Mets had a veteran who could fill in and close. 2.5 M is chump change on a solvent team that wants to compete but it was too much to bring in a proven commodity like LaTroy Hawkins. Even if Hawkins fell on his face, only 2.5M is lost. C’mon give me a break, the Mets have the seventh lowest payroll here and are below the league average.
+1000 on Hawkins. classic case of false economy.
I don’t think Edgin’s is a lock until he shows something more than what he’s done already. His 3.77 BB/9 rate was too high last year, and every prediction sees that going up.
If you think that was bad, then you should think worse of Scott Rice and his 4.8 BB/9. No way that guy deserves to be a lock for the bullpen IMO. Edgin over Rice all day everyday.
I think Valverde has a shot. Farnsworth isn’t throwin hard like I’m used to seein him do, which is alarming. It is still early however, and some pitchers take time to build arm strength. My guess would be Valverde makes it if he doesn’t have those wild bouts with his control.
I really think there is a disconnect between the upper and middle management of the Mets.
Collins spouts Dice K, Lannan, Valverde and Farnsworth – all non roster invitees that Sandy brought in for depth and hoping to hit another Byrd Jackpot. And then there is this quote from DiPodesta – On Montero and deGrom, Paul DePodesta told Kristie Ackert in the Daily News: “You look at the Cardinals and the Rangers in the last couple of years, they have had to bring their young pitchers up to the bullpen, because that is where there is room for them. We want to be in that type of situation, where we are bringing guys up to the bullpen in the big leagues. Maybe they are starters who will transition back to being starters later, or maybe they won’t because they have become so valuable in their role in the bullpen.” MetbogESPN 03-01-14
And then even in the front office you get this quote from Riccardi – Riccardi on giving up draft picks
http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2013/12/27/no-stephen-drew-in-new-york-j-p-ricciardi-says-mets-happy-with-ruben-tejada-as-shortstop/
“Hindsight is 20-20 and we can all go back and look at guys where they were drafted and what happened to them, but in the end, the major league players, the proven major league player, has a lot more value to me than the Double A kid, the Triple A kid or even the kid who is drafted. I wouldn’t hesitate to give up a draft pick. If I’m the Houston Astros or a club like that who is still building, I might not be as engaged to do it. But if I’m a club that is looking to get closer to being good, I might be more inclined to do it.”
I think it is good that there is diverse opinion in the management but then a decision needs to be made and Sandy needs to make it. Drew is an example, Duda/Davis is another example, EY or Lagares and Mejia as a starter or relif pitcher are two other situations needing to be addressed.