Just Mets

While the Mets continue to evaluate Rafael Montero and Dillon Gee for the final spot in the rotation, there are some talent evaluators who believe the choice is clear.

In a report for the Star Ledger, Mike Vorkunov polled several scouts on the subject, all sharing a belief Montero is ultimately the better choice for the Mets rotation.

“In a vacuum, I’d want Montero in the rotation and Gee in the pen as depth,” one evaluator told Vorkunov.

Another evaluator believed while Montero is a better long-term choice for the rotation, he should go to the bullpen to start the season.

Still, Sandy Alderson seems no closer now than he was a week ago to determining who will win the job.

“Dillon has the experience and has been successful,” Alderson said, according to Vorkunov. “Montero has the upside as a young guy. He demonstrated [on Monday against the Marlins] that when he pitches and has location and uses all of his pitches, he can be outstanding.”

However, Alderson hinted Gee could still be the favorite, despite Montero’s late emergence in the race.

“There was certainly a presumption that Dillon is the guy and I’m not sure that has changed but Montero has done everything he possibly can to change that presumption,” Alderson explained.

From a stuff perspective, there’s no comparison. Montero throws harder, he’s shown a filthly slider and has a good change-up, both of which can be very effective against left-handed hitters in particular. He’s also shown tremendous improvement this spring in his ability to throw strikes, something which irked Mets brass last summer.

As long as Gee’s here, he’s just more valuable in the rotation. That doesn’t mean he’s a better pitcher than Montero, nor does it mean he truly deserves the job (although Gee has been equally as impressive as Montero as starter this spring).

Gee is a veteran and has started his entire career. He had trouble adapting to life in the bullpen earlier in camp, and with six days to go before Opening Day, it’s not like he or the team can flip a switch and assume he can adapt into a long relief role. The Mets also have Carlos Torres who is an established swing-man, and with Gee in the bullpen, one or the other will essentially rot down there, which is an inefficient use of a roster spot, especially with Gee earning $5.3 million in 2015.

This situation should resolve itself one way or another in the relative short-term. With Vic Black and Bobby Parnell on their way back, something will have to give on the roster. What that means for Gee or one of the other starting pitchers remains to be seen, but it sure seems like they’re going to have to make some kind of move soon.

And, as I wrote yesterday, should the Mets decide to award the job to Montero, the Mets could get more out of Gee if they trade him than burying him in the bullpen.

The decision on who will win the fifth starter job will come this weekend, Terry Collins said on Monday.