Mets free agency: Tommy Hunter to Phillies, Bryan Shaw to Rockies

The Mets are seeing their bullpen options come off the table rapidly, with two more potential pieces signed by other National League teams this evening.

Bryan Shaw, who played in Cleveland under pitching coach/new Mets manager Mickey Callaway, has reportedly signed a three-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. The average annual value appears to be at about $9 million dollars. As our friends at Let’s Go Tribe mentioned in their report, Shaw has a tendency to give up big home runs, and is moving to a ballpark in which home runs are a real issue.

The Phillies, who signed Pat Neshek earlier this week, have reportedly also signed Tommy Hunter to a two-year, $16.25 million dollar contract. Hunter pitched for Tampa Bay last season, and put up a 2.61 ERA. He looks probable to be in the mix for the closer’s job in Philadelphia.

With Callaway’s comments about a bullpen with less defined roles earlier today, the Mets’ pursuit of relief pitchers becomes a little more interesting. The team currently has Jeurys Familia, AJ Ramos, and Jerry Blevins making up the back end of their relief corps, and would like to add at least one or two more names to that mix.

That said, Sandy Alderson has been known to take his time signing relief pitchers.