PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets are down to just one open spot in their bullpen as they finalize their roster.
Manager Carlos Mendoza announced on Monday that Huascar Brazoban has secured a place on the bullpen for Opening Day, leaving just one position available for another relief pitcher.
Things can change quickly, especially with the risk of injuries, but right now the Mets have Brazoban, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Brooks Lally, Tobias Meyers, and Luis Garcia set for six of the seven relief pitcher roles.
Typically, they carry eight relief pitchers, but the plan this time involves subtracting two from the bullpen to include six starting pitchers. Mendoza doesn’t anticipate a decision on the final reliever until after the team’s camp break next Monday.
“Having been involved at this level as a coach and manager, the last bullpen spot usually doesn’t get decided until later,” Mendoza noted. “There’s still a lot that can happen in the days leading up to Opening Day.”
One possibility is acquiring a relief pitcher from another camp before the season starts. Internally, the Mets’ options for that final spot seem to focus on Craig Kimbrel, a potential Hall of Famer, and Brian Hudson, who joined the team following a trade with the White Sox early in spring training.
Brazoban’s inclusion gives the Mets greater flexibility, allowing them to utilize pitchers capable of going more than one inning. Meyers, who previously started, fits this description as well.
Recently, Brazoban delivered 1 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts for the Dominican Republic in a game against the U.S. during the World Baseball Classic. In the entire tournament, he successfully retired 12 out of 13 batters he faced.
“It’s a competitive landscape, facing some of the best talent out there. I can’t say I was fixated on the outcome,” Mendoza reflected. “It was promising to see him throw like that, which was expected.”
“We were really just focused on his workload. He pitched nearly 30 pitches for just over an inning, so we’re pleased with where he’s at and can confidently call on him for more than one inning if needed.”
Brazoban, who still has a minor league option, ended last season with a 3.57 ERA over 52 games for the Mets.
The decision on how to fill that last bullpen role may hinge on whether the Mets require another left-handed pitcher. Currently, Brooks Lally is the main lefty expected to start the season, while A.J. Minter is sidelined until May due to rehabilitation from surgery on a torn latissimus dorsi. This might leave Hudson an opportunity for a starting role, despite having a tough season following a successful run with the Brewers in 2024.
“His velocity seems to be back, which I like,” Mendoza commented. “That’s something he struggled with last year. He also has a solid breaking ball.”
Kimbrel, now 37, has had a mixed performance this spring, posting a 2.25 ERA in four appearances. However, he has had issues with control, walking four and allowing hits to two batters in four innings.
“It’s really about how I perform next week,” Kimbrel said regarding his prospects. “We’ve got three games left before breaking camp, and my goal is to keep improving as we get ready for the season.”
Signing on a minor league contract, Kimbrel stands to earn $2.5 million if he makes it to the major league roster. He recognized the ups and downs this spring while aiming to maintain a lengthy career that’s seen him gather 440 saves.
“The good part is that I’ve been able to work through some of my challenges,” he noted. “But the walks and hits are concerns. The pitch that got hit was one I’ve been practicing, so it’s just about making progress and hopefully adding that cutter to my repertoire to be more effective.”
