Mickey Callaway spoke to the media at the Winter Meetings on Tuesday and indicated that he may not have a set closer for the upcoming season.
“I think that we’re going to pitch guys when it makes sense,” Callaway said. “I’m going to pitch guys to their strengths and they’re going to face the batters they should be facing.”
The Mets have technically had a revolving door at closer on a season-to-season basis since 2012. The primary closers since 2012 have been Frank Francisco (2012), Bobby Parnell (2013), Jenrry Mejia (2014), Jeurys Familia (2015-2016), and Addison Reed (2017).
Familia would’ve started 2017 as closer after two outstanding seasons in the role, but he was suspended for 15 games for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy. He later missed time between May 10 to Aug. 26 due to a blood clot in his right shoulder.
After Reed was gone and before Familia came back, the Mets traded for AJ Ramos who took over the closer’s role.
Between Familia and Ramos, the Mets have two viable options to close. If they add another reliever to the fold like they plan to, then that’ll give them yet another option. Therefore Callaway’s plan solves the issue of what to do with those back-end relievers.
Callaway is more worried about getting to the save situation first and foremost.
“We have to make sure we get to a save situation,” Callaway added. “And if we can’t get there, it doesn’t do any good to have this guy being named the closer.”
