During Spring Training, Paul Sewald has emerged as a real possibility for the Opening Day bullpen.
The issue with adding Sewald to the Opening Day roster is he’s not on the Mets 40-man which is currently full. Therefore, if the Mets want to carry either Sewald on the Opening Day roster, the team is going to have to make a roster move.
First and foremost, the need to make a move will be dependent on when or if Jeurys Familia is suspended for his domestic violence arrest in the offseason. Should Familia be suspended, this will open up a spot on the 40-man roster. However, that spot is only temporary as Familia will eventually be reinstated, and the Mets would once again have to make a roster move.
Another temporary fix would be putting David Wright on the 60-day disabled list. At this point in time, Wright is still not throwing, and there is no known timetable as to when he will be able to throw. Accordingly, it’s eminently possible he will need an extended stay on the disabled list.
However, when or if he is ready to return, the Mets would once again be pressed to find another 40-man spot.
Normally, this is where most Mets fans would point to Rafael Montero. However, Montero has pitched quite well this Spring. It’s more than the 2.70 ERA.
Montero has been trusting his stuff more, and he has been pounding the strike zone. As a result, we are finally starting to see what the Mets have seen with their decision to keep Montero on the 40-man roster all these years. Now, if you are keeping Montero, this means someone else is going to need to be removed from the roster.
The most likely candidate is Josh Edgin. Prior to his Tommy John surgery, Edgin could throw 95 MPH. With his fastball, he dominated left-handed batters, and he could hold his own against right-handed batters.
Post-surgery, Edgin is throwing in the high 80s to the low 90s. He has not been the same pitchers since, and the results are no longer there. With him being out of options, it’s hard to justify having him block someone else’s path.
Erik Goeddel is another Mets reliever who struggled in 2016 that is also struggling in 2017. Last year, Goeddel pitched through bone spurs, and he had a 4.54 ERA.
Unfortunately, things have not been better after the surgery. Goeddel does not seem to have his command or velocity, and as a result, he has posted a 9.95 ERA in seven appearances.
Another pitcher who struggled last year and is struggling in Spring Training is Sean Gilmartin. Gilmartin was a terrific long man in 2015 to a pitcher without a role last year. He bounced back-and-forth between Triple A starter and major league reliever. He didn’t handle the transition well. Now, he is struggling yet again posting a 6;75 ERA.
Certainly, the Mets could hope that Edgin, Goeddel, or Gilmartin rebound in 2017. However, those hopes are not going to stand in the way of the team putting together the best possible bullpen they can put together on Opening Day.
The 26-year old Sewald has looked good this spring with a 1.74 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and .143 opponents average this spring in 10.1 innings. Combine that with a 2.20 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 innings during his five year minor league career and you have a pitcher who’s shown he’s ready for a major league chance.
Sewald has done everything to earn himself a spot on the Mets Opening Day roster, but it may come down to if they can navigate a spot on the 40-man roster for him.
