New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen touched on a host of topics after the second day of this year’s GM meetings — being held in Scottsdale, Arizona — concluded.

Pitching Coach By Committee

Van Wagenen has a specific vision in mind regarding filling the Mets vacant pitching coach position. According to Tim Healey of Newsday, the second-year GM “sees the pitching coach as a three-man job”, adding that “in addition to having a pitching coach and bullpen coach, the Mets are likely to have an assistant pitching coach or a pitching strategist”, a la Jeremy Accardo.

With the team having already interviewed former MLB pitcher and current Twins assistant pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and former University of Michigan pitching coach, the highly-touted Chris Fetter, it appears Van Wagenen is again casting a wide net in search of the right hire.

Center Field Still A Question Mark

As per Tim Britton of The Athletic, Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo are currently penciled into the corner outfield spots with the team looking to add a center fielder this offseason.

Van Wagenen believes “improving the club’s defense in center field will also improve the defense in left field and right field”. Jeff McNeil played more than capable defense in the corners last season but adding a true centerfielder would certainly improve the team’s defense up the middle.

Per Britton, Van Wagenen says the Mets are “no longer discussing Amed Rosario as a possibility in centerfield”, as was rumored and reported last season.

Brodie’s Gotta Believe

As per Britton, Van Wagenen still holds two of the group’s more integral — albeit embattled — cogs, Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia, in high regard.

“We’re putting a lot of value and importance on those two players bouncing back. There’s no question about it.”

Diaz, 25, put up a dud in his first season with the Mets, pitching to a 5.59 ERA (4.51 FIP) with seven losses, 2.33 home runs allowed per nine innings, and 0.0 fWAR (3.5 in 2018). His 15.36 strikeouts per nine signify gobs of talent, but something’s got to give.

Familia, 30, returned to New York in free agency last offseason after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Mets. Over 66 appearances, his 5.70 ERA, 6.30 walks per nine, and -0.2 fWAR were wholly disappointing.

Despite having a strong core in place, the Mets bullpen needs a few considerable reinforcements, nonetheless.

Rotational Questions

Van Wagenen named Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman as potential 2020 rotation options last week and doubled down on looking within the organization to fill a presumably vacant fifth spot on Tuesday.

When asked if he’d be “comfortable going into the season without adding a starting pitcher from outside the organization”, Van Wagenen replied, simply, “yes”, as per Britton.

Though, Brodie also noted that he didn’t want either pitcher “floating between the rotation and the bullpen”, adding Lugo’s arm “felt much better” with a consistent role and that the team is “not concerned about Seth’s health at all” (Britton)

With Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, and Steven Matz all virtually locked into the Mets’ starting five next season, Brodie must know his starting pitching will be a strength.

After a season that saw four starters (deGrom, Noah, Matz, Zack Wheeler) all make 30-plus starts, Van Wagenen’s not worried about testing fate next season (Britton), declaring, “There’s no signs to think our rotation would not be healthy in 2020”.