Just Mets

Over a period of just three days, the pitching landscape for the Mets has changed pretty drastically for opening day. What was once a pitching staff with maybe one opening has turned into a situation where multiple auditions could exist.

With Zack Wheeler being shelved for the season, Terry Collins said on Monday Dillon Gee will re-enter the rotation. He is scheduled to start a split-squad game on Thursday.

In addition, Josh Edgin’s season-ending elbow surgery could leave as many as two openings in the bullpen – the one he vacated plus the original audition for the second left-handed relief spot.

Here’s what we know about the bullpen as of March 17:

Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, and Carlos Torres, and Rafael Montero are healthy.

Right now, it’s safe to say the first three of these pitchers are locks for the Mets bullpen.

As for Montero, I’ve been wondering what his story has been this spring. I’m told he is healthy, but he has only made one appearance so far this spring. Terry Collins said last month they haven’t determined if he’ll be considered for the big league bullpen right now or if he’ll go to Las Vegas and be  worked as a starter.

With Wheeler gone, Steven Matz needing more innings and Noah Syndergaard potentially needing more seasoning, it makes sense to send Montero down to Las Vegas as a starter. Yes, the Mets have Carlos Torres as a swingman, but until Matz and Syndergaard are ready, they’ll need an immediate insurance policy to another injury. Montero makes quite a bit of sense for that role.

I could see the Mets promoting Buddy Carlyle to take Gee’s spot in the bullpen, who could take Zack Wheeler’s place on the 40-man roster when he is moved to the 60-day disabled list.

No lefty has stood out to merit an Opening Day roster spot.

The left-handed situation in the bullpen is no clearer today than it was yesterday, or the day before, or the day before that, and so on. In fact, with Edgin gone for the year, it’s more murkier now than it was when camp opened in February. What’s worse, nobody is distinguishing themselves to warrant promotion to the big leagues for Opening Day, and time is beginning to run out.

Last week, Sandy Alderson said he envisioned at least one left-handed reliever would make the Opening Day roster. As such, my guess is that spot would likely go to Sean Gilmartin as of today. He’s on the active roster already thanks to being a Rule 5 selection at the Winter Meetings, his minor league statistics suggest he has an ability to get left-handed hitters out, and there’s really nothing to lose at this point by giving him a shot.

If the Mets decide to go with a second left-handed reliever and do not go outside the organization to fill that hole, my hunch says they would promote Scott Rice and put Josh Edgin on the 60-day disabled list to make room for him on the 40-man roster. That way, they retain flexibility in the minor leagues with Dario Alvarez or Jack Leathersich, since they are already on the 40-man roster.

There are potentially four spots open in the bullpen for Opening Day.

With Gee exiting the bullpen, Edgin gone and another left-handed relief spot open, the Mets have to answer three tough questions about their bullpen in a relatively short period of time.

But, with Vic Black dealing with shoulder tendinitis, now it’s not clear he will be available on Opening Day, either. That could leave a fourth spot in the bullpen open if he isn’t ready to go. He underwent an MRI over the weekend which came back clean, and he said he was hopeful to resume throwing within a few days.

Nevertheless, his situation will remain uncertain until he starts pitching again and doesn’t get derailed between that point and Opening Day.

If Black is not ready, perhaps the Mets would consider Montero, or maybe Erik Goeddel.

Bobby Parnell won’t be ready until May.

That was expected, but it’s worth noting the Mets cannot put him on the 60-day disabled list unless they think he could be delayed until June. He has dealt with a hamstring issue which sidelined him for about ten days, and was reportedly supposed to pitch in a minor league game today, but that apparently isn’t happening now, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. What all of this means for his return to the big leagues is anyone’s guess for the moment.

The point is, he will likely necessitate a 40-man roster spot on Opening Day, even though he will likely start on the 15-day disabled list.

For now, I’ll provide two projections for Opening Day – one assuming Black will be ready, and one with him on the disabled list. Neither of these projections assume the Mets will be going outside the organization for left-handed relief help:

Projection 1:

RHP

Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, Vic Black, Carlos Torres, Rafael Montero

LHP

Scott Rice, Sean Gilmartin

Projection 2:

RHP

Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, Rafael Montero, Carlos Torres, Buddy Carlyle

LHP

Scott Rice, Sean Gilmartin