Bullpen Alchemy Occurring in Port St. Lucie

Luis Rojas & Co. looking for that magical process of transformation to occur

We’re all quite familiar with how important a strong relief corps is to a contending team. The New York Mets have seen that spectrum work to their advantage and against it many times over the years. This season should be no different.

The new brain trust in Flushing didn’t go full bore at revamping their bullpen this winter but certainly did their best to reinforce weak spots.

Right-hander Trevor May was brought in on a two-year, $15.5 million deal to act as a sturdy bridge to the Mets’ back-end arms.

Aside from his slow start this spring (two runs on three hits over three innings), May should fit that bill sufficiently. Plenty of gas and a whole lotta spin at his disposal. No worries on that front.

Outside of May and fellow righties Dellin Betances (3 IP, 4 ER, 3 BB) and Jacob Barnes (3.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB), most other Mets’ relievers are performing well this spring.

Can’t say we have a ton of confidence in Betances rebounding (93 MPH on his fastball will play; 90 MPH will not), but the high-end of his remaining potential is still capable enough. Let’s hope he gets there.

As a team, Mets relievers own a 3.46 ERA this spring, good for third-best league-wide. That’ll do. Of course, with starters only going three-to-four innings at this juncture of exhibition play, that pool is a bit funky. Encouraging, nonetheless.

In the absence of Seth Lugo (elbow surgery/bone spur), Mets skipper Luis Rojas has leaned heavily on top-line arms as well as the depth guys this spring. Give everyone a shot, see how it shakes out. Love the approach.

We’ve discussed the benefits of internal competition here many times. Going off the early returns, seeds are sprouting on that front.

Edwin Diaz (3 IP, 5 K, 0 BB), Jeurys Familia (3 IP, H, 4 BB), Miguel Castro (3 IP, 2 K), Mike Montgomery (2.2 IP, 5 K, BB), Drew Smith (3 IP, 3 K), Daniel Zamora (3.2 IP, 3 K, 2 BB), and Robert Gsellman (2 IP, 4 H, K) have yet to allow an earned run this spring.

When Aaron Loup (3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 K) and Stephen Tarpley (5 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 K, BB) are bringing up the rear of your regulars with 2.45 ERA and 1.80 ERAs, respectively, things are arguably working out OK.

Big righty Arodys Vizcaino, pushing 96-97 MPH with his fastball in his first appearance of the spring on Sunday (K, BB), adds another facet of intrigue to this group.

Diaz pitching with confidence (as opposed to simply gripping and ripping) appears to have him primed for a very big year. If Familia can limit the walks and keep utilizing his top-flight arsenal to its full potential, that’s another huge pillar for the Mets. Castro is another beast altogether. Incredible stuff. Super-high ceiling.

With the prospect of underperformance and/or injuries always lurking — that’s the volatile nature of the bullpen, is it not? — having a group of guys who can all step up when the need arises limits the overall risk and keeps that train moving.

What results of the alchemy we’re seeing in Port St. Lucie this spring could theoretically make or break the Mets’ hopes of contention. A leaky bullpen is an infected wound — unaddressed, at some point, it’s gonna kill you.

It appears the Mets have a course of action in place to avoid such detriments.

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