Pitching always comes at a premium, especially if a club is trying to build a bullpen that can sustain the rest of the rotation. A solid showing in 2021, the Mets bullpen was one of the strong points last season and can certainly fit new additions to help continue that trend going into 2022.

We discussed five left handed relievers available on the market that could be solid options in the wake of the exodus of Aaron Loup. Pitchers Jeurys Familia, Robert Gsellman and Dellin Betances are unlikely to return and the Mets will need to find a few names to help supplement Trevor May, Edwin Diaz, Seth Lugo, just to name a few. Here are five right handed relievers available on the market that could make a significant impact for the Mets in 2022.

Joe Kelly (33)

One of the more interesting personalities in baseball, Joe Kelly seems like a solid for the Mets. A World Series champion with the Red Sox and Dodgers, Kelly brings a winning pedigree and a fiery attitude that seems to align with the team’s attempt at changing the culture of the clubhouse. It also helps that he’s good at baseball, too.

The right-hander is coming off a strong season in which he posted a 2-0 record with a 2.86 ERA, 3.08 FIP and 0.98 WHIP over 44 innings pitched through 48 appearances. Kelly became one of the Dodgers’ most trusted relievers during their latest playoff run until he suffered a season-ending right biceps strain in Game 5 of the NLCS versus Atlanta.

After season’s end, Kelly was one of 11 players to not have his option picked up and elected free agency. While his injury may be of concern, Jorge Castillo of the LA Times notes that the damage of the injury sustained was not as serious as it initially intended to be, which means Kelly will be ready in time for the 2022 season.

Kelly has won and pitched reasonably well wherever he’s gone and the Mets could use a guy like him on the back end.

Collin McHugh (35)

Stop me if you’ve heard this name being linked to the Mets in the past. Originally drafted by the Mets in 2008, McHugh didn’t exactly mow down the competition, although there were signs of it, it never fully materialized as a Met back then. After leaving the Mets and an unsuccessful stop in Colorado, McHugh found his way when he joined the Astros organization in 2014.

Taking on the role as a swiss army knife, McHugh can pitch out of the pen as well as a spot starter when needed. As an Astro, McHugh excelled in both roles putting up a 58-35 record with a 3.63 ERA from 2014-2019, notching a total of 110 starts and 85 relief appearances. When he returned to the mound after opting out of the 2020 season, McHugh had landed with the Rays and kept up that same reputation as a master of all trades. In coming off of his best year statistically, McHugh went 6-1 with a 1.55 ERA in 64 innings around 37 appearances for the Rays in 2021.

A guy like McHugh would be a solid fit for the Mets bullpen. As an innings eater, he can be used to ease the burden on pitchers who are either coming back from injury or to fill innings for proven starters who might need a break after a short outing. He can also be used to help bridge the gap to late inning relievers or even pitch in high leverage situations if your usual setup man or closer need a break. McHugh would compliment the likes of Seth Lugo (who pitches at least every two days) and Carlos Carrasco (who struggled in first innings and is coming off surgery).

Ryan Tepera (34)

Not seen as a flashy player, Ryan Tepera has been nothing but solid wherever he’s gone. Beginning with Toronto in 2015, Tepera quietly put up a 12-14 record, with a 3.48 ERA across 297.1 IP. After being released by the Blue Jays in 2019, the Chicago Cubs took a flier on Tepera in 2020 and last season he pitched to a 2.79 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 65 appearances for the both the Cubs and White Sox combined.

Known for his cutter and splitter, Tepera would more than likely serve as a short term option for New York. Having played supplemental roles for the Cubs and White Sox, he can be seen as a strong depth piece if the Mets decide not to splurge on a big name for the bullpen for 2022.

Archie Bradley (29)

Having been a mainstay with the Arizona Diamondbacks for so long Archie Bradley has fallen a bit as he’s bounced around with three teams in the past few seasons. After his ERA skyrocketed to 4.22 with the DBacks in 2020, he was dealt to Cincinnati where he posted a 1.17 ERA in 6 games. Signing with the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2021 season, Bradley put up respectable numbers by posting a 7-3 record with a 3.71 ERA through 53 games for the city of brotherly love.

While those numbers aren’t inherently bad, Bradley has seemingly underperformed and could use a change of scenery or stability within a bullpen. Still blessed with a strong fastball and a noted ground ball pitcher, Bradley would fit well in a bullpen with guys like Diaz, May and Lugo. As a supplemental piece, with his past experiences in Arizona, Bradley could be used in high leverage situations, if Diaz, May or Lugo would not be available.

Kenley Jansen (34)

While a recent report stated that the Mets were not going to make any major additions once the lockout is over, adding a guy like Kenley Jansen would almost certainly elevate the bullpen to a level they haven’t seen in sometime. Signing Jansen would allow the Mets to have two solid closing options, similar to how past teams had two players who had potential to close games, like Armando Benitez and John Franco in the late 90’s or Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell in the mid 80’s.

Having spent all of his career so far with Los Angeles, Jansen is currently 13th all time in saves with 350 and last season he recorded 38 saves and putting up a 2.22 ERA through 69 appearances. A three time all star, a World Series champion and two time NL National League Reliever of the Year winner, Jansen can bring a proven winning pedigree to a club looking to alter its own identity.

If the Mets were to approach Jansen with a two year deal or something along the lines of that type of contract, he’d help carry the load of closing games with Edwin Diaz. While Diaz improved last season, he still showed signs of extreme vulnerability in high leverage situations and bringing Jansen could help ease that burden, creating a strong tandem to help close ball games without running one pitcher dry.