Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports
As April quickly approaches, the Mets Opening Day roster has become clearer, however, there are still areas that are being worked out.
Mets’ manager Luis Rojas said on Friday that it’s important for New York to carry a second lefty in the bullpen in addition to Aaron Loup and mentioned Mike Montgomery, Stephen Tarpley and Jerry Blevins as players who are still competing for the spot.
Montgomery, 31, had a successful run in a swingman role with the Mariners and Cubs from 2016-18. He recorded a 3.35 ERA in 354.2 innings in that stretch before his performance slipped over the last two seasons. So far this spring, Montgomery has yet to allow an earned run over 4.2 relief innings. He has hit a batter, walked a batter and struck out seven in that span while most recently pitching two scoreless innings against the Astros last Monday. He can opt out of his contract on March 27, which is big, and might push him over the edge to land the spot.
Blevins, 37, sat out last season after pitching in MLB in every season from 2007-19. He has a 3.86 ERA in 4.2 innings so far this spring with three strikeouts and four walks. Blevins hasn’t pitched since Wednesday when he allowed two runs in an inning of work against the Cardinals.
Unlike Montgomery and Blevins, the 28-year-old Tarpley is already on the 40-man roster and has minor league options remaining. He has recorded a 6.65 ERA in his 44.2 major league innings split between the Yankees and Marlins. Tarpley has a 5.68 ERA in 6.1 innings this spring after allowing three runs to the Nationals on Friday night while only recording one out. Jose Martinez will probably be out until July and the Mets have yet to put him on the IL. If they wanted to open up a roster spot for one of Montgomery or Blevins, that could be a way to do so.
