The Mets are likely set to go with an eight-man bullpen to start the 2018 season. Based on merit, there are two pitchers that do not deserve to join the others on Opening Day: Hansel Robles and Rafael Montero.
Robles is a lot less complicated than the latter, mostly because the Mets do actually have the option to send him to the minors.
The 27-year old has been abysmal this spring, allowing 12 earned runs (13 total) in 11 2/3 innings while striking out 12 and walking four.
His outing yesterday provided no sense of improvement either as he allowed two hits in 1 2/3 along with an unearned run in relief of Montero.
Again, Robles is the easy one to option, and they should definitely not open the season with him on the roster.
Montero is the tricky situation, that, at this point, maybe shouldn’t be anymore.
The reason the idea of keeping him on the roster is even a consideration is the fact he is out of options and likely would get claimed on waivers if the Mets were forced to DFA him.
However, he has been nothing short of dreadful this spring with nine earned runs (13 total) allowed while walking six batters as compared to ten strikeouts in nine innings pitched.
The right-hander, as mentioned before, came in before Robles and allowed one earned run (two total) while allowing one hit and one walk in 1/3 of an inning.
So where does that leave us with Montero?
Well, it puts the Mets in a predicament in which they have to decide what is more important, keeping Montero or how effective the eighth man in the bullpen is?
If this was a team in rebuilding mode, maybe this would be a different discussion. With the Mets trying to compete in 2018, though, the answer should be pretty simple.
It’s about getting the best 25 players on the field on Opening Day, and right now Montero is not one of them. It’s not even close.
Give the spot to Jacob Rhame or Robert Gsellman, who have pitched much more admirably this spring. Those pitchers actually have earned themselves a roster spot.
Montero has not and the idea of keeping him on the roster based on his “quality stuff” that he displays on occasion and peripherals that suggest he might not be as bad of a pitcher as we have seen since he was called up in 2014.
Yes, he was one of our top pitching prospects at one point, though he has never been able to deliver on his once-promising career.
And no, the Met should not feel ashamed of themselves if he figures it out somewhere down the line.
They gave him many, many chances to prove that he could be a solid MLB pitcher. They tried him in the bullpen and the rotation multiple times and he never could find consistency.
If he figures it out, all power to him. I, and many others, can probably confidently say the Mets made the right decision for their team today even if that happens.
It’s tough to give up on former top prospects, but they can’t keep going down this road with Montero.
The decision for the final roster spots on this team should be based on merit. Placing Montero or Robles on the Opening Day roster would be ignoring that.
