We all know the story, and we all remember the headlines. We probably remember the frustration we felt, like the wind was knocked from our guts when we heard that Jenrry Mejia would be suspended a second time, resulting in a 162 game suspension. Although he will not be back until August next season, there is a case for the Mets to pay him arbitration and return to the team next season.
This past season, we saw the rise and dominance of Jeurys Familia. There is no doubt Familia will be the closer moving forward, and Tyler Clippard or Addison Reed might come back to be the setup man. The bullpen should be getting Josh Edgin back from Tommy John surgery, and Jerry Blevins could return. There are multiple question marks as of now, but moving forward in the offseason, there will be a couple of signings and possible trades that strengthen the bullpen.
If all the names mentioned return to the bullpen, it would form a solid bullpen, and the need for Mejia may not be needed, but there are some benefits to bringing him back. First off, he is only 26 years old, which is young compared to the other veterans. Second, it never hurts to have former closers as relief pitchers. Yes Clippard and Reed have experience, but it never hurts to have options towards the backend of games. Also, there is a tremendous advantage to having the last three innings planned out when your team is winning. The problem is that the combination could be overused and fatigued, which is where Mejia comes in. His ability to pitch multiple innings could be utilized in these situations to give the more used relievers a break. Lastly, he would come cheap. Mejia’s contract (should it stay $2.5 million) would only be paid for the time he comes back. It would not hurt the payroll too much, enabling the organization to let a reliever go to save money and put it elsewhere.
Due to the suspensions, there may be backlash that the Mets face for resigning Mejia. If he performs well out of the bullpen, the backlash will be over quickly. We have seen that from our crosstown rivals this past season. Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees were scrutinized throughout the past two years, and the circus would have run rampant if A-Rod did not perform. Turns out that he was a solid contributor for the Yankees, and put together a nice season, which quieted the media.
The Mets also had a PED user on the team this past season, and he turned out to be one of baseball’s most beloved players. That may not be the case with Mejia, but who knows what could happen.
Bullpens are one of the most unpredictable components of baseball. Some years it seems that a reliever comes out of nowhere and is lights out, while a successful closer struggles big time, and is relegated to a minor role. We cannot be sure if these proven veteran names will come through next season for the Mets, nor can we be sure if the young arms (like Erik Goeddel, Jack Leathersich or Hansel Robles) will rise up to become setup relievers. It never hurts to have solid options waiting in the wings, and if the Mets need a midseason acquisition to help the bullpen, Mejia would be a tremendous boost, and that is why they should bring him back.
i agree they need another arm give him one more chance at a small rate
The Cubs claimed Leathersich off waivers on November 19th.
Robles is a keeper. Leathersich is a Cub. Meija could be a cheap option for help in August and September, but remember, he is barred from postseason play in 2016.
Sign either O’Day or Soria and Sipp or Blevins to team with Robles in the 6th, 7th and 8th. Use Gilmartin and Verrett in the 5th Inning or earlier for multiple innings. Familia closes. The 7th guy can be anyone. With a pen like that and the incredible starting arms, the Mets can hang in there with anyone till late July and then fortify the roster just like they did this year!
Really?
I guess November brings out the insanity. Aside from inviting smallpox into the clubhouse, have you looked at the total crap he has been slinging this winter? Mejia is a flaming pile of garbage. I’d being back The Nameless One before The Even More Nameless One. Honestly. That is not the move defending NL Champions make.
There is a much higher call in the world than winning with absolute scum bag cheaters like Mejia. And he sucks.
Bringing back Mejia after the crap he pulled twice is outrageous. He made mockery of his second chance and of those who gave him it including Mets brass, his teammates and Mets fans. He would be clubhouse cancer, bad role model and all around bad, bad vibe and energy- draining distraction . Am very disappointed Mets 360 would even try to justify it in any way nor even think anyone knows what sort of pitcher he’d be if clean. No thank you. Get his sorry
a ss off this team.
Inelligible for 2016 playoffs? I had not heard that. Can anyone confirm? If that’s true I especially see no reason to bring him back. I don’t like the message it would send to the younger players and minor leaguers in the organization.
No playoffs for those suspended for PED’s in that season.
His second suspension came in July. And it’s for 162 games, so he won’t be eligible to even play until half the season is over, and then because he’s suspended, he’s ineligible for post season. If you are counting, that is 242 games of being suspended for cheating via doping. Too bad mlb can’t remove him from ever being present in a baseball stadium for any reason.
1) Mejia was dumb enough to cheat twice and get caught in the same season…what makes you think he won’t do it again?
2) Mejia clearly didn’t think he could compete at a high enough level without cheating, so why should we believe he can?
3) Even if Mejia doesn’t cheat & pitches well, his suspension leaves him ineligible for all but about two months of the season…and as I understand it, he would not be able to pitch in the playoffs.
Where is the upside in bringing him back, exactly?
I guess you have to cut the chord on Mejia. I haven’t heard of any recent statements but it’s not worth bringing him in for two months and you have to look at the overall positive impact not bringing him back will have on the oranization.
Yeah I don’t see the potential upside if he can’t even pitch in the 2016 post-season (if that’s true). I mean, what’s the point of just adding him for two months with all of the baggage that he comes with? Too bad, I was a big fan before this nonsense.