Bullpen could be New York Mets Achilles Heel

The New York Mets have been active this offseason. They remade their outfield while adding depth to their bench. Max Scherzer provides a second ace for a team that needed one. Chris Bassitt was added via trade, providing another excellent arm to the rotation. The Mets have dramatically improved their roster.

The same cannot be said of the bullpen. Aaron Loup is gone and has been replaced by Adam Ottavino. Otherwise, the Mets have not done much when it comes to the relief corps. Yes, they signed several veteran arms to minor league deals, but that may not be enough.

New York Mets bullpen could break 2022 hopes

There are clear flaws in that relief corps as it is. Chasen Shreve, one of those aforementioned minor league signings, is the only lefty listed on the Mets’ depth chart. Shreve was solid last year, but has also struggled with his command throughout his career and saw his strikeout rate drop to a career worst 7.2 K/9 in 2021.

The Mets do have some solid pieces. Edwin Diaz has found his way once again as a closer. Trevor May, Seth Lugo, and Miguel Castro have been strong pieces in their careers. But there is a question of whether or not the Mets have enough depth in the bullpen, even with that group in the back of the bullpen.

And that could be the biggest issue facing the Mets going forward. They seem to have enough depth in different areas to withstand injuries and ineffectiveness, except for the bullpen. And with one left handed reliever, they are putting a lot of faith on Shreve to rebound from last year.

The New York Mets are poised to take another run at the postseason. However, the lack of depth in their bullpen could derail those plans.