NEW YORK – When the Mets relievers show up this month in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the story will be more about who is not there than who is. The decision of Puerto Rican Edwin Díaz to sign with the Dodgers for three years and US$69 million left a significant void in the back end of the bullpen. Díaz had been the Mets’ primary closer since 2019, becoming a fan favorite. Now he is part of a National League rival.
But the Mets didn’t let Diaz go without a plan to replace him. The lynchpin of that strategy is Devin Williams, former Brewers and Yankees closer, who signed with the Mets for three years and $51 million. Replacing Diaz will not be an easy task, but the team is confident Williams can do it.
Additionally, president of baseball operations David Stearns assembled his bullpen by combining veteran arms with reasonable contracts and several young pitchers who will compete for a spot. The Mets have plenty of relief potential, although they still don’t know — and can’t know — what that mix will look like on Opening Day.
On the roster of 40: Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, AJ Minter, Brooks Raley, Venezuelan Luis García, Dominican Huascar Brazobán, Tobias Myers, Alex Carrillo, Joey Gerber, Jonathan Pintaro, Dylan Ross, Austin Warren
Injured: Reed Garrett, the Dominican Dedniel Núñez
Notable outputs: Puerto Rican Edwin Díaz, Ryne Stanek, Tyler Rogers, Ryan Helsley, Dominican Gregory Soto
Top 30 Prospects: Pintaro (Nr. 15), Ross (Nr. 18), Ryan Lambert (Nr. 20), Venezuelan Douglas Orellana (Nr. 25)
Notable non-roster guests: Craig Kimbrel, Carl Edwards Jr., Joe Jacques, Nick Burdi, the Dominican Anderson Severino, the Mexican Daniel Duarte, Robert Stock
Of the names mentioned, there are four locks for Opening Day: Williams, Weaver, Raley and Garcia. With Diaz now in Los Angeles, Williams will be the Mets’ closer, a role he has already played for years in Milwaukee and the Bronx. Even though he’s not Diaz, he was probably the best alternative on the market this year. Behind him, Weaver, Raley and Garcia are experienced relievers in pressure situations. Everyone but Raley is new to Flushing.
Minter would also have a guaranteed spot if he were not in the final stages of his rehabilitation from a torn left lat muscle, which sidelined him for most of last season. There is still a chance he makes the team from camp, but if not, management hopes to have him available after a brief stay on the injured list.
Beyond the five mentioned, there are up to three positions available in the bullpen. On paper, Brazobán and Myers would be the favorites for two of them, unless the team decides to keep Myers as an option to start games. In any case, Spring Training will be the scene of an important competition. We will have to keep a close eye on the 37-year-old veteran and possible future Hall of Famer, Kimbrel, who is fighting to extend his career.
Facing him will be a group of young guys with good straight lines, like Pintaro, Ross, Lambert and Carrillo. They all have Minor League options and will likely bounce back and forth between New York and Triple-A Syracuse throughout the year.
The Mets have high regard for Ross, so much so that they brought him up on the final weekend of last season, even though he never pitched. Two years ago they drafted Lambert in hopes he would have a similar impact. Between them, Pintaro, Carrillo and others, the club believes it will finally have relief talent with options consistently available in the majors, something that has been a deficiency in recent years.
