(Neil Miller/Sportsday Wire)
Now that Yoenis Cespedies is heading back to Queens for at least the 2016 season, the Mets seems to be in pretty good shape going into spring training.
Upgraded middle infield? Check.
Lefties in the bullpen? Check.
Big bopper in the middle of the lineup? Check.
Happy fan base? Check.
If the Mets hold serve for the next month going into Port St. Lucie, they should be fine. However, go up and down the roster and it still looks like the Mets are an arm short.
If you don’t believe me, the club seems to feel the same way, according to Mike Puma of the NY Post.
Was told the Mets may not be finished adding to the bullpen.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) January 24, 2016
Look, I’m not here to spend Fred’s money, but if the Mets are acting like a big market team with a $140 million payroll, they might as well go all in and complete the bullpen. After all, it’s only a few more million we’re talking about.
They have Jeurys Familia closing and Addison Reed as a setup man. They signed Antonio Bastardo and Jerry Blevins, but still they could use another arm out there.
Even though innings limits for the Mets young starters are a thing of the past, at the beginning of the season, manager Terry Collins will not stretch out his aces, meaning they will probably only go six innings or into the seventh inning for their first five or 10 starts.
If that’s the case, the Mets don’t want to be caught short as Collins is going to his ‘pen every single night. Reed and Bastardo are capable setup men, but they need someone else.
And let’s not speculate on injuries, which can complicate this situation.
Fortunately, like Cespedes up until Friday, another Met free agent is still looking for work. Righthander Tyler Clippard is still out there and the Mets should look to make him an offer to bring him back.
Last season, the 30 year-old went 4-1 with a 3.06 ERA in 32 games after being acquired from the Oakland A’s. He was superb in August when the Mets started to run away with the NL East going 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA in 15 games. A back injury slowed him in September and in the postseason, but he still is an excellent setup man, who you know can pitch in New York and fit into the fabric of the clubhouse.
Adding Clippard will give the Mets a chance to have a complete bullpen from the beginning of the season. They are less likely to blow games, early and will have a chance to build a lead in the East early, making a pennant race moot.
A bullpen of Familia, Clippard, Reed, Bastardo, Blevins, Hansel Robles, and Sean Gilmartin will give the Mets a nice mix of righties and lefties which will give Collins the ability to spread out the workload and not burn anyone out that quickly.
With the Cespedes signing, the Mets are now all in on going back to the World Series. It’s time to spend a little more and complete their team.
Bring back Tyler Clippard.
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