The Mets’ bullpen is often considered one of the team’s biggest weaknesses. However, they have had some great seasons from relievers that seem to get overlooked. Whether they’re from journeymen or from guys who fell down the organizational depth chart, these five guys deserve recognition for these seasons they put together.

LaTroy Hawkins, 2013

The 2013 Mets had very low expectations, but they came through with their second straight 88-loss season.

In January of that season, they signed Hawkins to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. The Mets were the 10th MLB roster the well-traveled righty was a part of, and in his age-40 season, he was very effective. Hawkins appeared in 72 games, pitching to a 2.93 ERA/3.06 FIP with a 1.146 WHIP and 55 strikeouts in 70.2 innings (7.0 K/9).

After Bobby Parnell was shut down for the season due to injury, Hawkins assumed the closer’s role, finishing the season with 13 saves (including converting his last 10 save opportunities of the year). This was Hawkins’ only season in Flushing though, as he signed a one-year deal with the Rockies following the 2013 season.

Buddy Carlyle, 2014

A former second-round pick, Carlyle couldn’t find sustained success in MLB for any team he played with. The Mets signed him to a minor league contract in February of 2014, and he initially didn’t crack the big league roster. Carlyle was called up on May 31, but he was designated for assignment just a few days later. He was recalled to the bigs on July 6 but was DFA’d again two weeks later despite his strong performance. After he went unclaimed once again, Carlyle was called back up on July 26, and he finished the season in Flushing.

In between those stints in the minors, Carlyle had the best season of his career. He appeared in 27 games, turning in a stellar 1.45 ERA/2.65 FIP and a 0.903 WHIP with 28 strikeouts in 31 innings (8.1 K/9). The Mets rewarded him with another one-year contract for the 2015 season, and he recorded his first career save in an opening day win over the Nationals. Unfortunately, Carlyle’s season ended due to a torn labrum in his hip and he never again pitched in MLB.

Josias Manzanillo, 1994

After spending nearly a decade in the Red Sox organization, Manzanillo bounced from the Royals to the Brewers to the Mets in a span of 14 months. In 1994, Manzanillo had a prominent role in the Mets’ bullpen, registering a 2.66 ERA/3.22 FIP with a 0.993 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 47.1 innings (9.1 K/9). In 1995, Manzanillo was unable to keep the good times rolling, allowing 14 earned runs in 16 innings before getting released.

He returned to the Mets in 1999 but struggled to a 5.79 ERA in 18.2 innings. After he retired, Manzanillo was mentioned in the Mitchell Report in 2007, putting that great 1994 season into question.

Aaron Heilman, 2005

Heilman isn’t necessarily a forgotten name in Mets history, but he’s a player that lives in infamy among Mets fans. Before his notorious blowup in 2006 though, Heilman was the Mets’ most reliable reliever in 2005.

The former first-round pick made seven starts before becoming a full-time reliever, finishing the season with a 3.17 ERA/2.97 FIP and a 1.148 WHIP with 106 strikeouts in 108 innings (8.8 K/9). Heilman was particularly dominant in the second half of the season, allowing just three runs and striking out 45 batters in 40 innings, and assuming the closer’s role late in the year.

When Heilman returned to Flushing as a visitor in 2009, he was booed relentlessly by fans, but it can’t get overlooked that he did show flashes of greatness in orange and blue.

Hisanori Takahashi, 2010

After a 10-year run with the Yomiuri Giants, Takahashi came stateside in the 2009-10 offseason, inking a one-year contract with the Mets. He made 12 starts for the Mets, having some ups and downs and eventually moving the bullpen permanently by August.

Overall, the southpaw finished the year with a 3.61 ERA/3.65 FIP and 1.303 WHIP to go with 114 strikeouts in 122 innings (8.4 K/9). However, Takahashi had a 2.04 ERA and a 1.134 WHIP in 57.1 innings as a reliever. Over the last two months of the season, Takahashi allowed just four earned runs in 27.1 innings and racked up eight saves after taking over the closer’s role. This was Takahashi’s lone year in Flushing, however, as he signed a two-year contract with the Angels following the 2010 season.