Jenrry Mejia is coming off his most successful major league season. After being bounced around between the bullpen and the rotation for several years, he finally settled in as the teams closer in 2014. He saved 28 games and struck out more than a batter per inning (9.4 K/9). There were certainly moments of weakness for the young pitcher but he showed that he has the raw talent to be a back of the bullpen reliever.
Shifting our eyes to the offseason, it’s important to look at Mejia objectively. The Daily New’s Kristie Ackert released her thoughts on 5 ways the Mets could improve next season. Here’s what she had to say about Mejia:
Trade Jenrry Mejia. It may seem counter-intuitive to trade a closer who had 28 saves in his first season in the role, but with Mejia being injury-prone, when will his value be higher? There are many in the organization w ho have always felt that Jeurys Familia was the closer of the future anyway, and they have Bobby Parnell, who did a nice job before Tommy John surgery ended his season, coming back.
She raises a very valid point about Mejia’s injury history. He has never made it through a season without something hampering him. In fact, since being signed as an amateur free agent in 2007, he’s thrown an average of 97 innings per season in the majors and 57 innings in the minors. Most of those innings were as a starter.
The real thing that concerns you about Mejia is his health. If you could guarantee a healthy Mejia then he is a guy that you build around. Unfortunately that’s just not the case. In 2009 it was a strained middle finger on his pitching hand, in 2011 it was Tommy John Surgery and this season lower back stiffness cost him a few games. It’s always something.
Another reason to trade Mejia is the depth in this bullpen. With Jeurys Familia, Vic Black and the return of Bobby Parnell, the Mets are loaded in the back end of the bullpen. If trading Mejia could bring back a substantial piece then it’s a move Sandy Alderson has to make.
So what do you think? Should the Mets trade Jenrry Mejia and let the other three battle it out for the closer role? Vote below!
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