Just Mets

The Mets went from having a dearth of left-handed relief options to being a lot deeper in just a matter of hours on Monday.

The Mets have traded for another reliever this afternoon, acquiring LHP Jerry Blevins for OF Matt den Dekker, the team announced in a statement.

Blevins, 31, was 2-3 with a 4.87 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 64 games for the Nationals in 2014, stranded 31 of 35 inherited runners, notched nine holds and averaged 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings last year.

Blevins held left-handed hitters to a .160 last season with 40 strikeouts and only six walks – he’s held left-handers to a .212 average with 33 walks and 14 home runs in his eight year career.

Blevins will earn $2.4 million in 2015 – he can be a free agent after this season.

After Monday’s 7-1 win against the Marlins, Sandy Alderson told reporters both Blevins and Alex Torres – who was acquired for Cory Mazzoni earlier today – will be in the bullpen.

It’s also possible the Mets will carry Sean Gilmartin, which would mean they could have three left-handed pitchers in the bullpen come Opening Day.

Blevins didn’t have a strong spring, and the Nationals had an excess on the left side of the bullpen, so its not a surprise Washington moved him, although I am a little surprised they moved him to a division rival.

Blevins is a natural left-handed specialist. He’s primarily a fastball/curveball pitcher, although he does keep a change-up and cutter in his back pocket. He wasn’t effective against right-handed hitters last year, which likely means he will strictly face left-handers in 2015.

If the Mets carry three left-handed relievers, that’s probably bad news for Buddy Carlyle and his chances for making the club. As I noted earlier, Alex Torres actually has reverse splits, and he along with Rafael Montero (assuming he doesn’t get the fifth spot in the rotation) might be an effective enough combination to hold Vic Black‘s spot down until he’s ready to return.

I also wonder what carrying three left-handers in the bullpen means Dillon Gee. If he doesn’t get the fifth starter job and he goes to the bullpen, someone is going to get squeezed when both Black and Bobby Parnell come back.

As for den Dekker, there really wasn’t going to be a place for him on the roster. He’s an amazing defensive player and he was awesome in Las Vegas last year. He’s a tremendous kid and he may yet find a place with the Nationals on their bench. He’s going to be missed in this organization. In fact, some people in the organization felt he was the better option to Kirk Nieuwenhuis, but being out of options made the choice fairly academic, especially since Kirk has had an outstanding spring and showed he can be a valuable left-handed bench piece last year.

On another note, the left-side of the bullpen is arguably more solidified today than it was a month ago with Josh Edgin. It’s really nice to see the Mets going out and tackling a glaring problem heading into Opening Day. They have fortified the left side of the bullpen admirably, something they simply could not afford to leave unattended given their simple lack of options in house. It tells me they’re in it to win it, and that’s the right message to send both the clubhouse and the fans.