Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports
Mets’ manager Luis Rojas said on Saturday via Zoom that the team is currently evaluating left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery as a starter, but also as a reliever.
Montgomery, 31, will be on the hill to start Sunday afternoon’s contest with the Miami Marlins and the plan is for him to bat as well, Rojas said.
The veteran southpaw signed with the Mets this winter on a minor league pact with an invitation to spring training. His deal, however, includes an opt out on March 28 if he is not on the big league roster, so a decision on his fate might be coming soon.
Should he not make the opening day rotation, the team could also choose to bring him north as a reliever and have another lefty in the bullpen along with Aaron Loup.
Rojas said that it isn’t “imperative” to have two lefties in the bullpen, but that it’s always good to have options, especially if they need to use a lefty but want to have Loup enter the game in the later frames.
Montgomery has pitched in 183 big league contests and has started 70 of them, so having him pitch in one role as opposed to the other wouldn’t be uncharted territory.
Joey Lucchesi is also bidding to secure the fifth starter spot, where he has pitched primarily throughout his career, though he is coming in after an opener on Saturday.
As for the bullpen, Stephen Tarpley is another left-hander that could prove to be some competition for Montgomery as spring winds down and the team is forced to make a decision.
