Prior to the Mets signing Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha, there was at least an operating theory the cash strapped Mets would turn to either Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman to be the team’s fifth starter. With Porcello and Wacha aboard, not only will Lugo and Gsellman not get that opportunity, but they seem further away than ever from getting that chance to get back into the rotation.
Even with the latest setbacks in his hopes of returning the rotation, Lugo remains undeterred.
In fact, as reported by Mike Puma of the New York Post, even after these signings, he approached Jeremy Hefner to tell the new Mets pitching coach, “I’m going to keep gunning for a starting job because that’s what I want to do.”
From the Mets perspective, you can understand their hesitation. Lugo has proven to be a weapon in the bullpen. In fact, while pitchers like Josh Hader and Liam Hendriks received the accolades this year, Lugo was the only reliever in the majors who was top four in his league in innings pitched and FIP.
Aside from his being perhaps the best weapon in any bullpen, at times, he proved to be the only weapon in the Mets bullpen in 2019. With the Mets not adding any pitchers to the bullpen so far this offseason, it is hard to see the team shifting a pitcher who could be the most dominant reliever in the majors to the rotation.
Lugo understands that, and like the previous two seasons, he is going to put the team first by going to the bullpen if asked because in the end, he wants to win. He would note if Porcello and Wacha “can perform like they have in the past, that makes for a winning team, if you ask me. That’s six real good starters. I will say seven. I’m going to throw myself in there.”
No matter what the case, Lugo not only wants the opportunity to start, but he also just wants to improve as a pitcher. That is why in addition to speaking with Hefner about his wanting to start, he is also working with Hefner to be an even better pitcher.
It’s almost scary to think Lugo could be even better in 2020 than he was in 2019. Of course, despite his wishes, that is going to happen in the bullpen and not the rotation . . . at least not yet.
