Unless someone “steps up and beats him out” Terry Collins said Bobby Parnell is the Mets closer whenever he is ready to return to the Mets bullpen.
Speaking to SNY, Collins said about Parnell, “Wait until you see him. I was just in Florida and he is ready to go. He is big, he is strong and he is anxious.”
Collins said that Parnell is bound and determined and after his throwing session, he approached Parnell and said, “I want you to pitch the ninth inning.” The Mets righty responded, ‘Yeah, me too.”
Well this looks like it’s going to get very interesting. Collins is legendary for his loyalty and affinity for playing veteran players over younger ones, even if performance indicators say otherwise.
November 13
Bobby Parnell is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2015 season according to general manager Sandy Alderson. Parnell is currently throwing on flat ground at 120 feet as he works back from last April’s Tommy John surgery.
“Right now I think we’re projecting sometime after the season starts,” Alderson said about Parnell pitching in the majors. “But that’s just an educated guess right now.”
Parnell is currently working out at the Mets’ Port St. Lucie, Florida, complex with new strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Barwis.
The Mets have five relievers assured of coming back including closer Jenrry Mejia, setup man Jeurys Familia, and middle relievers Vic Black, Josh Edgin and Carlos Torres.
Alderson suggested that a starting pitcher like Rafael Montero could fill another bullpen role. And it’s well documented that the Mets are shopping for a second left-handed reliever.
