Mets name Dillon Gee to starting rotation

With both Dillon Gee and Rafael Montero pitching well this March, the Mets had a tough decision to make when it came to naming a pitcher to replace the injured Zack Wheeler in the starting rotation. According to ESPN New York, that decision has been made. Gee will be the fifth starter and make his first outing in Atlanta during the series that begins on April 10.

How long Gee will stay in the rotation is anyone's guess. The right-hander only pitched 137.1 innings last year with a 4.00 ERA due to struggles with a strained lat. Since peaking in the summer of 2013, Gee has seen his effectiveness gradually wain. Between 2012 and 2013, he was worth a total of 3.4 fWAR, but that figure shrunk to 0.4 in his injury-shortened 2014.

Even with Gee now occupying an important role on the Mets, the franchise is still open to trading him if the right deal pops up. With Rafael Montero looking very strong during spring training and hot prospect Noah Syndergaard marinating in Las Vegas to start the season, the Mets could exchange Gee for bullpen help or some kind of prospect without hurting their 2015 chances much if at all.

On the other hand, since the Mets appear to be "going for it" this season, Gee can make himself much less expendable if he begins his season with a few strong outings.