With a one-year deal done for Fernando Salas, the Mets are still in on the left-handed Jerry Blevins.
Blevins was one of the linchpins of the Mets’ bullpen in 2016, often manning the seventh inning while Addison Reed and Jeurys Familia handled the eighth and ninth, respectively. His 2.79 ERA in 2016 was helped by his success against right-handers, as he held them to a .182/.266/.345 line. Throughout his career, however, Blevins has been much more of a lefty specialist, with same-handed hitters posting a .588 OPS against him since his debut in 2007.
At the start of the offseason, reports were that Blevins was seeking a three-year deal, which was too much for the Mets to commit. As a lefty, Blevins would have particular value in a bullpen where the other available lefties—Josh Edgin, Josh Smoker, and Sean Gilmartin— are unknown quantities.
If the Mets can get a deal done, their bullpen will be in decent shape even if Jeurys Familia is suspended under MLB’s domestic violence policy.