JUPITER, Fla. — Barring a late-inning injury, the Mets’ season-opening rotation was finalized Wednesday.
With the Mets assigning Jose Butt to Triple-A, Tyler Megill was informed that he would be joining the team and joining the rotation.
Megill and Butt were the remaining candidates to fill Kodai Senga’s rotation vacancy.
Chiga was diagnosed with a right shoulder muscle strain early in camp and will begin the season on the disabled list.
Megill had long been considered the favorite to win the spot based on his strong offseason and major league experience, but Butt certainly made a strong impression on team officials.
“We’ve said we’re going to have some tough conversations, and I talked to Butt this morning,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets’ exhibition game against the Marlins. “It’s not just the way he throws the ball, the way he works and how good of a teammate he is. He’s basically done everything we’ve asked him to do.”
Butt, 26, pitched in four games for the Mets of the Grapefruit League, posting a 0.90 ERA. Last season, he played solidly for the team in the final month after returning from Triple-A Syracuse.
Megill, 28, pitched in five games this spring with a 3.45 ERA after spending most of last season with the Mets.
The right-handed pitcher arrived at camp already built after an offseason pitching program, where he worked on building velocity and implementing a splitter.
“credit: [Megill] And we talked about how we approach the offseason and how we prepare,” Mendoza said. “He was working on new pitches and was ready, just like Bhutto. Out and on the road [Megill] Where he threw a baseball and how it bounced and this is the guy who did it. He has a little more experience than Bhutto and we decided to go that route. ”
Megill started 25 games for the Mets last season and posted a 4.70 ERA. After a stint with Syracuse, he came on strong for the club in the second half.
With pitchers who still have minor league options, Megill, Butt, and Joey Lucchese provide the Mets with much-needed rotation depth.
Mendoza said part of his conversation with Butt was to prepare for the Mets to insert a sixth starting pitcher into the rotation for the first time and give additional rest to other starting pitchers.
“He’s going to pitch a lot of innings for us and he’s going to give us quality innings,” Mendoza said. “That’s important. We’ve been talking about our depth all along and we’ve gotten to this point. We’re putting out a kid who’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and now He has to go to Triple-A.”
