Let’s be completely honest: if the Mets have an Achilles heel, it’s the bullpen.

We all know about wild cards like Betances, Familia, Díaz, and Gsellman…and we’re all biting our nails until Seth Lugo returns. 

Until then, who else is filling out the 2021 Mets bullpen? The following relievers could have a major impact on the upcoming season.

Trevor May

May was the Mets’ most expensive bullpen acquisition this winter, inking a two-year, $15.5 million deal in December.

May’s peripheral numbers point to his greatest strength: the ability to miss bats. The 31-year-old tore his UCL in 2017 and returned from Tommy John surgery the following season. Since undergoing the operation, May has seen his fastball velocity climb on an annual basis. In 2020, May ranked seventh in the majors in K/9 (14.7) and eighth in whiff rate (43 %).

May, who will be the primary setup man to closer Edwin Díaz, has the potential to become a fan favorite. He’s an active Twitter presence and avid Twitch streamer whose accessible personality should be a hit among the Flushing Faithful.

Aaron Loup

You won’t find a more vocal proponent of the three-batter minimum than Loup. Traditionally, a southpaw with middling fastball velocity would be viewed as a lefty specialist. But in 2020, the three-batter minimum gave Loup a greater chance to prove his effectiveness against right-handed batters, and he responded by holding righties to a .192/.246/.423 slashline.

A veteran of nine seasons with 406 career relief appearances under his belt, Loup has also expressed willingness to act as an opener if needed.

Sam McWilliams

On the surface, signing a career minor leaguer with an 8.18 ERA in his only taste of Triple-A to a major league contract seems like a risky proposition, bordering on illogical. 

But that’s the risk the Mets took with six-foot-seven righty Sam McWilliams this winter. When the 2020 minor league season was cancelled because of the pandemic, McWilliams dedicated himself to retooling his mechanics at the Rays’ alternate site in Port Charlotte, Florida. There, he recorded pitch-tracking data on his phone to show to interested teams. 

Though McWilliams has never pitched in a major league game, the Mets were confident enough in his progress to give him a $750,000 contract –far higher than the league minimum–on a major league deal last November.

Jerry Blevins

Hello, Jerry!

The lanky lefty thought he was done with baseball. He spent most of 2020 away from the diamond, raising his young children and perfectly content with life outside the game. Then the Mets called, and Blevins decided to give his playing career another shot. Blevins cites his competitive desire as the reason for his return, saying, “I want to win a World Series. For me, literally the only team I would’ve come back for is the Mets.”

The 37-year-old is in camp as a non-roster invitee hoping to win a job. If he fails to make the big league roster, his recent stint on SNY hints at a bright future as a TV personality.

Drew Smith

The Mets acquired Smith in July of 2017 when they sent Lucas Duda to the Rays. Tommy John surgery caused him to miss all of 2019, and he was ineffective (5 ER in 7 IP) in his brief major league stint in 2020. Smith did add a cutter to his arsenal, however, and the pitch was largely successful in a small sample size (63.2% whiff rate last season).

Miguel Castro

Once a rarity in baseball, hard throwers are now a dime a dozen. Blazing fastballs no longer inspire awe, so even a pitcher like Castro — who ranked in the majors’ 100th percentile in average fastball velocity last season — can fly under the radar. Castro has yet to put it all together on the mound, but he’s still only 26 years old and his strikeout numbers (13.9 K/9 in 2020) hint at a possible breakout season on the horizon.

Searle’s Final Say

The Mets have struggled to fill out their bullpen with quality arms in recent years. Though the absence of Seth Lugo could present problems at the start of 2021, the current 40-man roster has an array of interesting arms who can provide solid relief work. For more on the Mets’ pitching depth, click here to check out my analysis of potential spot starters.