Mets sign reliever Antonio Bastardo to two-year deal

In the midst of all the Yoenis Cespedes talk, the Mets have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Antonio Bastardo. The deal was initially reported by MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Bastardo fills an important need for the Mets, providing a veteran, eighth-inning bridge to protect Jeurys Familia in the ninth. The deal is reportedly worth $12 million over two years.

A product of the Philadelphia Phillies organization, Bastardo broke into the majors as a part of the Phillies bullpen in 2009. In five seasons with the Phillies, the Dominican Republic native produced a 3.72 ERA in 259 innings pitched with 324 strikeouts. Following the 2014 season, the Phillies shipped Bastardo to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for minor leaguer Joely Rodriguez. As a Pirate, he appeared in 66 games, posting a 2.98 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 57.1 innings. Terry Collins will most likely use Bastardo as an eighth-inning setup man to offset the departure of Tyler Clippard.

The signing presumably pushes Addison Reed to the seventh inning, giving the Mets a pretty formidable shut-down bullpen.