The clock is ticking on Spring Training, and still, nobody among the Mets’ internal candidates for left-handed relief is standing out.
But as more and more players become available into the last week of the exhibition season, the Mets remain confident they’ll be able to fill one of their left-handed relief voids via the external markets, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes.
Nationals manager Matt Williams told Sherman Washington would like to take two of Jerry Blevins, Matt Thornton, Xavier Cedeno, and Rich Hill north with the club. But while there might be some availability among this group, Sherman says the Mets view these relievers as more of a, “fallback position” in the event they are unable to acquire anyone else.
The Mets have shown interest in Orioles LHP Brian Matusz, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post. But while Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports said on Monday the Mets, “really want Matusz, they want Baltimore to offer some relief to Matusz’s $3.2 million salary in 2015.
The Mets are also said to be keeping an eye on Dodgers LHP’s JP Howell, Adam Liberatore, and Paco Rodriguez in the event one or more of them become available before Opening Day, according to Mark Saxon of ESPN.com.
Sherman also says the Mets are scouting left-handed relievers from the Braves and Rockies.
Just Mets 