Mets add to crowded pen by bringing back Ryne Stanek
The Mets re-upped with Ryne Stanek on Wednesday. While exact terms are not currently known, it’s believed to be a one-year deal, with Andy Martino reporting it to be in the $4-5 million range. Stanek was acquired by the Mets at the trade deadline last year and after a rough start with his new team, he became one of the club’s most reliable relievers by the end of the year and in the playoffs.
This seems like a very good deal but it’s going to be quite interesting to see how the bullpen shakes out. There are a lot of people in play for a bullpen spot, with the decision on who makes the Opening Day roster further complicated by how the proposed six-man rotation works out, the health of various relievers and the guys who have no options remaining.
Perhaps the player most hurt with that last item is Tylor Megill, who pitched very well down the stretch last year but who still has an option remaining. Given that the Mets much prefer to keep a potential starter stretched out in the minors, it seems 99.99% likely that Megill opens the year in Syracuse.
We know Edwin Diaz will be in the pen and it seems logical that Stanek will be there, too. If ready for the start of the season, A.J. Minter will be there, as well. Here are some of the other contenders from the 40-man roster:
No options available: Paul Blackburn, Jose Butto, Griffin Canning, Dylan Covey, Sean Reid-Foley, Danny Young
Options – Huascar Brazoban, Reed Garrett, Justin Hagenman, Kevin Herget, Max Kranick, Megill, Dedniel Nunez, Austin Warren, Tyler Zuber
It’s hard to imagine that if they were healthy that Garrett and Nunez wouldn’t deserve to be in the Opening Day pen. But we saw last year that David Stearns gave preference to guys that he signed to low-7-figure deals. Jake Diekman ($4 million), Jorge Lopez ($2 million) and Michael Tonkin ($1 million) all made the trip north, as did Yohan Ramirez ($768K). From the no-options-remaining club, Stearns gave $4.05 million to Blackburn and $4.25 million to Canning.
Covey is making $850K. Young signed a minor-league deal, so while he has no options available, he won’t be exposed to other teams should he fail to make the club out of Spring Training.
Assuming everyone’s healthy and that the club won’t use a sixth starter right away and will therefore carry eight relievers, here’s one guess how it will shake out: Blackburn, Butto, Canning, Diaz, Minter, Nunez, Reid-Foley and Stanek make the Opening Day pen.
I like the re-signing of Stanek for all the same reasons I liked him when he was initially signed. Throws hard, lots of Ks, and had playoff experience with the Astros and now the Mets. His stats were not pretty for the full year but he got better at the end and threw quite well in the playoffs. He makes the pen stronger. If he starts strong he could be a great 8th inning arm.
hard to imagine reed garrett doesn't make the club. I also think I read that Blackburn might not be quite ready by opening day, so I'm guessing he gets an IR stint. Canning is the wild card I suppose. Or, as you've wanted all along, Butto gets the 6th spot in the rotation.